Seroprevalence of Border disease in 22 sheep farms in the south of Chile

In order to determine the presence of antibodies against the Border disease (BD) virus, 147 blood samples were obtained from 2 large sheep farms (more than 2000 sheep each) and 20 small holdings (less than 30 sheep each) in t he south of Chile. Blood samples were taken from the jugular vein, using sterile plain vacutai ners. Sera was separated by centrifugation, frozen and stored at -20 degree s C until tested. Border Disease antibodies were detected using a double-mo noclonal-antibody capture ELISA. A reciprocal titre of greater than or equa l to 100 was considered positive. Sheep with antibodies to ED where detected on 23 % (5/22) of the sheep farm s. The seroprevalence in individual flocks was 8.5%, overall ranging from 0 % to 42.8%. In spite of the percentage of sheep farms positive to ED, no cl inical cases were reported. This is the first study that shows the presence of serologically positive a nimals to ED in Chile. Other studies are needed in order to determine the p revalence of the disease in the sheep populations and the strains of the vi rus present in Chile.