Risk Factors Associated with the Alpine Multispecies Farming System in the Eradication of CAEV in South Tyrol, Italy.

Alexander Tavella,Katia Capello,Astrid Bettini,Giuseppe Bertoni

doi:10.3390/v13101959

Alexander Tavella, Katia Capello + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/v13101959

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Abstract

South Tyrol has implemented, in 2007, a mandatory eradication program against Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis Virus (CAEV), a virus known to cause economic losses related to decreases in milk production and milk quality in goats, along with poor animal welfare and premature death. After a great initial decrease in the seroprevalence, the program has reached a tailing phase with scattered positivities. Potential risk factors associated with the multispecies farming system, a traditional approach in South Tyrol, are evaluated in this study, in order to better understand some of the potential causes leading to the tailing phenomenon. A statistically significant number of farms was selected for the present study, based on the risk factors evaluated. Even though there is no statistically significant association between the practices evaluated and the incidence of infection, the authors believe that it is important to highlight potential risks that may threaten the outcome of this eradication program.

Highlights

Small Ruminant Lentiviruses (SRLVs) are viruses of the Retroviridae family that includeCaprine Arthritis Encephalitis Virus (CAEV) and Maedi-Visna Virus (MVV) [1]
B1, is considered the prototype for CAEV, while SRLV A is the prototype for MVV [2,11]
The same tailing phenomenon has been observed in several other eradication and control programs worldwide, such as the Swiss program, and appears to be correlated with the diagnostic differences among the different plans, but mainly with the complex biology of the virus itself [11,21]

Summary

Introduction

Small Ruminant Lentiviruses (SRLVs) are viruses of the Retroviridae family that includeCaprine Arthritis Encephalitis Virus (CAEV) and Maedi-Visna Virus (MVV) [1]. Small Ruminant Lentiviruses (SRLVs) are viruses of the Retroviridae family that include. SRLVs can cause chronic and progressive inflammatory and degenerative lesions to the joints, mammary glands, lungs and central nervous system in both goats and sheep [2,3,4]. SRLVs have been characterized into five genotypes (A–E), three of which (A, B and E) have been further divided into viral subtypes (A1-22, B1-5, E1-2) [8,9,10]. B1, is considered the prototype for CAEV, while SRLV A is the prototype for MVV [2,11]. SRLVs are promiscuous and readily cross the species barrier between goats and sheep [2,8]

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