Seroprevalance of Batai virus in ruminants from East Germany.

Batai virus (BATV), a mosquito-transmitted Orthobunyavirus, was first detected in Southwest Germany in anopheline and culicine mosquitoes in 2009. However, little is known about the exposure to BATV infections for farm animals and humans in Germany as almost no systematic surveillance or infection studies have been carried out to date. This may explain why clinical symptoms in animals or humans have not been reported so far. Therefore and since BATV has meanwhile been detected repeatedly in different mosquito species in several regions of Germany, we performed a surveillance study by assaying more than 1300 blood samples from ruminants (goats, bovines, sheep) from six different federal states covering the years 2013 to 2016. Samples were investigated by BATV-specific real-time polymerase chain reaction as well as by virus neutralisation test. BATV-specific RNA was not detected, whereas BATV-specific antibodies were found in livestock from various geographic regions. We have determined the seroprevalence of 38.8% for goats, 44.7% for sheep and 36.4% for bovines in Saxony-Anhalt. The seroprevalence of goats from Brandenburg was 38.6% and of goats from Saxony 28.4%. These results confirm the levels of seroprevalence to BATV, suggesting endemic circulation, in different regions and indicate that ruminants are potential hosts of BATV in East Germany. Furthermore, the role of BATV as segment donor in disease emergence events should not be overlooked.

[Evaluation of the performance to date of the BHV-1 eradication campaign in Saxony-Anhalt (Germany)]. / Evaluierung des bisherigen Verlaufs des BHV-1 Tilgungsverfahrens in Sachsen-Anhalt.

The present article is attempting to evaluate the to date performance of the BHV-1 eradication campaign currently run in Saxony-Anhalt. Special emphasis is put on the modelling of missing data and an optimum performance--for comparison with the observed progress of eradication. The eradication campaign turned out to have performed almost optimally so far, but problems might arise in its final phase due to insular management deficiencies and violation of laws, as well. Possible sanctions are mentioned.

[Eradication of BHV-1 in cattle herds in Saxony-Anhalts using a vaccine lacking a marker--report of an experience]. / Tilgung der BHV-1 in Rinderbeständen Sachsen-Anhalts mittels Markervakzine--Ein Erfahrungsbericht.

The present article reports about the experiences during the current BHV-1-eradication programme in Saxony-Anhalt started in 1996. An overview about the reasons, the basic situation, the issue and the present state of the eradication is given. Furthermore were shown, that an eradication of Bovine Herpes Virus type 1 by using gE-deleted vaccines is possible.

[Elimination of persistently BVDV infect animals: efficient herd screening using RT-PCR and antigen ELISA in milk and serum samples]. / BVD-Virämikereliminierung: Effektives Herdenscreening durch Kombination von RT-PCR und Antigen-ELISA in Blut- und Milchproben.

With the long-term perspective of the eradication of BVD/MD in the German federal state Saxony-Anhalt a voluntary control program was initiated in 2002 by an administrative regulation based on federal German guidelines. The short-term aim of this program is the establishment of BVDV-unsuspected herds achieved by elimination of persistently infected cattle. The diagnostic program and particularly the choice of the diagnostic tools was based on the consideration of laboratory experiences as well as on economic and logistic aspects. A combination of RT-PCR and antigen-ELISA was found to be the suitable diagnostic methods. The screening started with examinations of sera pools using Real Time RT-PCR in the Light-Cylcer system. After positive pool results the individual persistently infected animals were detected using various commercial ERNS-antigen-ELISAs. The RT-PCR revealed a high degree of sensitivity and robustness. With respect to highly specific ELISAs the producers have to ensure the detection of all currently important virus strains. The prevalence of persistently infected animals in the cattle population of Saxony-Anhalt was about 0.2% during the last 3 years. This is probably due to nearly 10 years of broad vaccination and will prove advantageous for BVDV elimination.