Detection of antibodies against small ruminant lentiviruses in ovine and caprine fetuses

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Gerardo Arcila López
Humberto Alejandro Martínez Rodríguez
Jorge Tórtora Pérez

Abstract

The presence of antibodies against Maedi-Visna (MV) and caprine arthritis encephalitis (CAE) was evaluated in ovine and caprine fetuses obtained from pregnant females slaughtered in abattoirs. Sera from 54 caprine fetuses and 65 ovine fetuses were collected and evaluated by the indirect ELISA technique. Antibodies were detected in five caprine fetuses of 80 days of gestation and in four ovine fetuses of 90 to 100 days of gestation; three caprine fetuses and two ovine fetuses of 60 to 65 days of gestation were suspicious. The possibility of uterine infection with these retroviruses is confirmed, and its consequen­ces in current disease control and eradication strategies are discussed.
Keywords:
Retrovirus Sheep Goat Small Ruminants Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis Maedi-Visna Fetal Immunity Transplacental Infection Uterine Infection

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