Gammaherpesviruses (γHVs) include viruses that can induce lymphoproliferative diseases and tumors. These viruses can persist in the long term in the absence of any pathological manifestation in their natural host. Alcelaphine gammaherpesvirus 1 (AlHV-1) belongs to the genus Macavirus and asymptomatically infects its natural host, the wildebeest (Connochaetes spp.). However, when transmitted to several susceptible species belonging to the order Artiodactyla, AlHV-1 is responsible for the induction of a lethal lymphoproliferative disease, named wildebeest-derived malignant catarrhal fever (WD-MCF). Understanding the pathogenic mechanisms responsible for the induction of WD-MCF is important to better control the risks of transmission and disease development in susceptible species. The aim of this review is to synthesize the current knowledge on WD-MCF with a particular focus on the mechanisms by which AlHV-1 induces the disease. We discuss the potential mechanisms of pathogenesis from viral entry into the host to the maintenance of viral genomes in infected CD8+ T lymphocytes, and we present current hypotheses to explain how AlHV-1 infection induces a peripheral T cell lymphoma-like disease.
Keywords: CD8+ T lymphocytes; bovine; gammaherpesvirus; latency; lymphoproliferative disease; malignant catarrhal fever.