Antibody Titres to African Horse Sickness, Swine Vesicular Disease and Foot-and-Mouth Disease Viruses in Samples from Equidae in Malta, 1975

Abstract

SUMMARY Sera taken from 47 horses, mules and donkeys after foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and during swine vesicular disease (SVD) outbreaks in the islands of Malta and Gozo in 1975 were tested for the presence of antibody to African horse sickness (AHS), SVD and FMD viruses. Neutralizing or complement fixing antibodies or both were detected against AHS in five out of 47 sera. Four of these five animals were known to have been imported from North Africa and the antibody may have been due to previous infection or vaccination. No significant neutralizing or precipitating antibodies were recorded against SVD or FMD viruses in any of the serum samples.