SEROLOGICAL SURVEILLANCE OF SOW COLOSTRUM

In 1990/91, 459 samples of colostrum from sows in 35 herds and, in 199 2, 1571 samples from 131 herds were examined for influenza and parvovi rus infection by haemagglutination inhibition tests, for transmissible gastroenteritis and swine fever virus by indirect immunofluorescence and for enzootic pneumonia and Aujeszky's disease by ELISA. The detail s of the diagnostic methods used and the results are described and dis cussed. The routine examination of sow colostrum proved to be a useful method of herd surveillance.