Abstract
Ovine sera, collected from the northern prefectures of Hokkaido, Aomori and Iwate in Japan, were examined for the presence of antibodies against Blue tongue virus (BTV), bovine leukemia virus (BLV), bovine Herpesvirus type 1, agent of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR), ovine Herpesvirus type 2 (OvHV-2), agent of sheep-associated malignant catarrhal fever (SA-MCF), and bovine Herpesvirus type 4 (BoHV-4), using agar immune diffusion, serum neutralisation (SN) and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests. No animals were positive to IBR, BoHV- 4 or BLV antigens. Antibodies against BTV have been detected in 3 samples (1.11%) in two flocks from Hokkaido. The seroprevalence of OvHV-2 was observed in twelve flocks from the 3 considered prefectures, in 56 sheep and two goats, with 37.66% of samples giving a positive reaction in the serum neutralization test. The infections did not appear to be related to the reduction in sheep productivity. Immune reaction reported in goats could refer to Caprine Herpesvirus-2 (CpHV-2). These results indicate that sheep are reservoirs for OvHV-2 in the field in Japan.
Highlights
In Japan, bovine farming represents an important economical resource, with production excellences like black Japanese cattle breed, producing Kobe beef, while ovine farming is a relatively minor sector, and population is constituted by approximately 10,000 heads [1]
In order to explore the presence of Blue tongue virus (BTV), bovine leukemia virus (BLV), and Herpesvirus (BoHV1, ovine Herpesvirus type 2 (OvHV-2) and bovine Herpesvirus type 4 (BoHV-4)) infections in sheep, and to obtain a preliminary picture of their epidemiology among the Japanese sheep population, a serological survey was carried out between September and January 2008
These samples came from the northern prefectures in Japan, Hokkaido, Aomori and Iwate, as they have the most part of small ruminant population, approximately more than 50%
Summary
In Japan, bovine farming represents an important economical resource, with production excellences like black Japanese cattle breed, producing Kobe beef, while ovine farming is a relatively minor sector, and population is constituted by approximately 10,000 heads [1]. Concerning small ruminants, sheep are naturally sensible to BTV and Herpesvirus infections (BoHV-1, OvHV-2 and BoHV-4) [9,10,11]. In order to explore the presence of BTV, BLV, and Herpesvirus (BoHV1, OvHV-2 and BoHV-4) infections in sheep, and to obtain a preliminary picture of their epidemiology among the Japanese sheep population, a serological survey was carried out between September and January 2008. These samples came from the northern prefectures in Japan, Hokkaido, Aomori and Iwate, as they have the most part of small ruminant population, approximately more than 50%.
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