SEROLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS IN DIAGNOSTIC OF VIRUS-INFECTIONS FROM CATTLE IN SHEEP

In the coast region of the north-west of Germany 269 arbitrary chosen blood samples of 22 flocks of sheep were tested for the existence of B HV-1, BVD and PI-3 antibodies. The livestock of 13 farms with 163 shee p consisted of sheep and bovine, 9 herds with 106 sheep kept sheep onl y. The results show that BHV-1 antibodies were not present in the samp led sheep. Contrary to this are the results for BVD and PI-3. The bloo d tests for BVD antibodies were positive in 6,7 % of the samples. This result indicates a low prevalence rate of BVD virus in the investigat ed region. The positive results showed distinct differences in distrib ution for the two farm types. Out of all BVD antibody positive reactor s (n=18) 83 % were located in 7 farms keeping sheep and cattle. The re st of the positive reactors (17 %) was found on 2 farms keeping sheep only. For PI-3 the distribution of farms keeping sheep plus cattle vrs , keeping sheep only concerning the antibody positive stocks was 7 pos itive herds out of 13 vrs. 6 positive herds out of 9. Again within the sheep herds of the two farms types occurred significant differences. Farms with sheep and cattle had 19 % to 75 % PI-3 antibody positive bl ood samples and farms with sheep only 1 % to 11 %.