Cross-Reactivity of Neutralizing Antibodies among Malignant Catarrhal Fever Viruses

PLoS One. 2015 Dec 14;10(12):e0145073. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0145073. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Some members of the gamma herpesvirus genus Macavirus are maintained in nature as subclinical infections in well-adapted ungulate hosts. Transmission of these viruses to poorly adapted hosts, such as American bison and cattle, can result in the frequently fatal disease malignant catarrhal fever (MCF). Based on phylogenetic analysis, the MCF viruses (MCFV) cluster into two subgroups corresponding to the reservoir hosts' subfamilies: Alcelaphinae/Hippotraginae and Caprinae. Antibody cross-reactivity among MCFVs has been demonstrated using techniques such as enzyme linked immunosorbent and immunofluorescence assays. However, minimal information is available as to whether virus neutralizing antibodies generated against one MCFV cross react with other members of the genus. This study tested the neutralizing activity of serum and plasma from select MCFV-infected reservoir hosts against alcelaphine herpesvirus 1 (AlHV-1) and ovine herpesvirus 2 (OvHV-2). Neutralizing antibody activity against AlHV-1 was detected in samples from infected hosts in the Alcelaphinae and Hippotraginae subfamilies, but not from hosts in the Caprinae subfamily. OvHV-2 neutralizing activity was demonstrated in samples from goats (Caprinae) but not from wildebeest (Alcelaphinae). These results show that neutralizing antibody cross reactivity is present to MCFVs within a virus subgroup but not between subgroups. This information is important for diagnosing infection with MCFVs and in the development of vaccines against MCF.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / blood
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / immunology*
  • Cattle
  • Cross Reactions
  • DNA, Viral / analysis
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Goats
  • Herpesviridae / classification
  • Herpesviridae / genetics
  • Herpesviridae / immunology*
  • Malignant Catarrh / immunology*
  • Malignant Catarrh / pathology
  • Malignant Catarrh / virology
  • Phylogeny
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction

Substances

  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • DNA, Viral

Grants and funding

This work was funded by the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (CWU 5348-32000-032-00D). The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.