SEROPREVALENCE OF BOVINE IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS (BIV) ANTIBODIES IN THE CATTLE POPULATION IN GERMANY

Serum samples from 380 cattle were analysed for the presence of bovine immunodeficiency-virus (BIV) antibodies by focus immunoassay (cell-EL ISA) and immunofluorescence assay (IFA). All specimens originated from dairy farms in the eastern part of Germany, which had been randomly c ollected during the period 1989-1991. The cattle were clinically healt hy and free of bovine leukaemia virus (BLV) and bovine-virus diarrhoea -virus (BVDV) antibodies. Infection of cell lines with BIV was monitor ed by syncytia formation, cell-ELISA, and immunofluorescence. The sero prevalence of BIV antibodies was 6.6 %, as determined by cell-ELISA. C omparison of IFA and cell-ELISA showed that all IFA positive sera were also positive in cell-ELISA. However, additional sera were reactive o nly in cell-ELISA. This first report suggests that BIV infection may c ause minor problems in German cattle, while BIV is present in a simila r prevalence to that reported from other countries.