Serological sarcoptes scabiei var. suis survey in pig breeding units and serological monitoring of eradication programs: a seroepidemiological study in mange free and chronically infected breeding units

Sera from 88 pigs chronically infected with Sarcoptes scabiei var.suis were tested in order to evaluate the course of antibody titer with the Chekit(R ) Sarcoptest using homogenized Sarcoptes scabiei var.vulpes as antigen. The results were compared with sera of pigs from mange free breeding units. The results of this study show that sera from pig lets less than two week old and gilts older than eight months can be used. No positive titers R ere observed in animals between five weeks and four months of age. In order to avoid false negative results only sera from untreated gilts should be used . The high specifity (99,34%) of the test calculated in a previous stud) (Zim mermann und Kircher, 1998) is confirmed by these results. Based on the resu lts of the present study testing of colostral samples should be attempted i n the future.