Abstract
The aim of the study was to examine grazing goats and sheep as specific sentinels for characterization of the tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV)-related risk in an area by means of serosurveillance tests in the German federal states Baden-Wuerttemberg, Bavaria, Thuringia, North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, and Mecklenburg-West Pomerania. A total of 3590 sheep sera and 3793 goat sera was collected in 2003 and 2006–2009 and were examined by ELISA screening and confirmed by serum neutralization test. Considerable differences in seroprevalence were seen between single flocks in districts in Baden-Wuerttemberg, Bavaria, and Thuringia with values between 0 and 43% which confirmed the patchy pattern of TBEV foci that can range in size from very small to large. The here described serological screening may be a helpful tool for an early warning system of a potential TBEV risk. Testing of 1700 ticks by real-time RT-PCR in two districts in Baden-Wuerttemberg revealed only one positive tick, thus illustrating the problems of expensive and time-consuming tick collection.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
