Status of Japanese encephalitis infection in cattle: Survey of antibodies in various geographical locations in Japan.

Abstract

Serum samples were collected from a total of 1339 cattle raised in the northern, central and southern regions of Japan during the years 1982-83, and their antibody titers against Japanese encephalitis virus were determined by the hemagglutination-inhibition test. Antibody prevalences were 59.7%(468/784) and 56.8%(179/315) in the central and southern regions, respectively, while only 2.1%(5/240) in the northern region. The distribution of positive reactors to the virus was limited to the southern regions in Spring but the positive cases appeared also in the northern regions in September.