Anticorpos contra vírus do grupo da língua azul em caprinos e ovinos do sertão de Pernambuco e inferências sobre sua epidemiologia em regiões semiáridas / Antibodies against bluetongue-virus group in goats and sheep from Pernambuco state and inferences on bluetongue epidemiology under tropical conditions

The prevalence of antibodies against bluetongue virus was investigated in 41 dairy goats and 40 sheep herds in the semi-arid region of Pernambuco state and the conditions for insect Culicoides maintenance, considering climate dynamics and vector competence, were evaluated. The percents of seropositive herds in agar gel immunodiffusion test for bluetongue virus group were 24 for goats and 27.5 for sheep. The estimated prevalences of seropositive animals were 3.9 percent for goats (n = 410) and 4.3 percent for sheep (n = 400). The prevalences of seropositive animals were low in the mesoregion of Sertão Pernambucano (4.8 percent for goats and 4.1 percent for sheep) and São Francisco Pernambucano (1.0 percent for goats and 4.5 percent for sheep). There were no significant differences between species and regions. Considering the social and economic importance of goats and sheep raising in the semi-arid region, it is essential to establish preventive measures to control imports of ruminants from these areas.

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.

Evidência sorológica de infecçäo pelo vírus da artrite-encefalite caprina em caprinos leiteiros do Estado de Pernambuco / Sorological evidence of caprine arthritis-encephalitis in dairy goats in Brazil

Foram pesquisados anticorpos precipitantes contra o vírus da artrite-encefalite caprina (CAE), empregando-se a imunodifusäo em ágar-gel, utilizando-se o antígeno do vírus maedi/visna dos ovinos, em 214 amostras de soros de caprinos puros (Saaneu, Toggenburg e Parda Alpina) e seus mestiços, provenientes de cinco exploraçöes leiteiras de quatro municípios do Estado. Evidenciaram-se resultados positivos em 38 amostras (17,7 por cento), com frequências por criaçäo variando de zero a 29,5 por cento

Anticorpos contra pestivirus e herpesvirus em caprinos leiteiros no Estado de Pernambuco / Antibodies against pestivirus and herpesvirus in dairy goats in Pernambuco State, Brazil

A preliminar survey to detect antibodies against BVD/MD (NADL) and BHV1 (Los Angeles) was perfomed in five dairy goat flocks from four counties of Pernambuco State, Brazil. Two hundred and six serum samples of purebred (Saanen, Toggenburg and Alpine) and crossbred goats were tested by microplate serumneutralization test. Positive results (titre >/ 4) were recorded in 11.6 per cent and 6.8 per cent of samples test to BVD/MD and BHV 1, respectively