Anticorpos contra lentivírus de pequenos ruminantes em caprinos e ovinos em abatedouros do estado de Pernambuco / Small ruminant lentivirus infection in goats and sheep from two abattoirs in Pernambuco State, Brazil

The prevalence of small ruminant lentivirus (SRL) infection was evaluated in goats and sheep in two counties of Pernambuco State, Brasil. Seriological examinations were performed from a total of 672 goats and 325 sheep, one year of age and older, at two abattoirs. Sera were analyzed by agar gel immunodiffusion using Maedi-Visna K-1514 antigens. There were 42 reactive samples (95 percent confidence interval 3.6 percent to 4.9 percent) in both slaughter houses. In São Lourenço da Mata county, 3.2 percent and 4.0 percent of goat and sheep sera were responsive, whereas in Paulista county, 5.1 percent of goat samples and 8.2 percent of sheep were reactive. Thus, the prevalence of small ruminant lentivirus was low in goats and sheep sampled from the region.