Characterisation of Aujeszky's disease viruses isolated from domestic animals and from a wild boar (Sus scrofa) in Italy between 1972 and 1995.

Following the isolation of a group I Aujeszky's disease virus from a wild boar in 1993, an investigation was carried out on 30 Italian Aujeszky's disease viruses (ADV's), isolated over a 23-yr period in 12 Italian regions, by means of restriction endonuclease analysis. All strains isolated between 1972 and 1984 belong to group I. From 1984 onwards group II isolates (II and II intermediate) replace group I isolates. The isolation of a group I virus in 1993 from a wild boar supports the hypothesis that ADV's may persist for several years in wild boar populations and that wild boars should therefore be considered reservoirs of Aujeszky's disease virus.

Isolation and characterisation of an Aujeszky's disease virus naturally infecting a wild boar (Sus scrofa).

Isolation of Aujeszky's disease virus (ADV) from an injured, female wild boar (Sus scrofa), shot dead by hunters, in an area adjacent to the Abruzzo National Park is reported. The brain was submitted for attempted virus isolation following episodes of mortality in several dogs and cats fed with meat from the wild boar. Virus was isolated on first passage from the brain of the wild boar. The restriction fragment length polymorphism profile of the isolate was assessed as a type I. The role of stress in reactivating latent ADV in wild boars, the possibility of transmitting infection to endangered species such as bears (Ursus arctos), wolves (Canis lupus), wild cats (Felis silvestris) and lynx (Lynx lynx), present in the Abruzzo National Park and the possible role of wild boars as reservoirs for ADV is discussed.

Sero-prevalences of selected cattle diseases in the Kafue flats of Zambia.

Sera from five traditionally managed herds grazing in the Kafue flats were tested for antibodies to bovine viral diarrhoea-mucosal disease (BVD-MD), parainfluenza 3 (PI3), infectious bovine rhinotracheitis-infectious pustular vulvovaginitis (IBR-IPV), bovine adenovirus 3 (BAV3) and Bluetongue (BT). The sero-prevalences of the first four diseases were respectively 76.2, 94.4, 42.1 and 87.4%. Five samples (2.3%) gave doubtful reactions for BT. Prevalences of 28.5% for brucellosis, 14% for Rift Valley fever (RFV), 0.9% for Q fever and 11.2% for chlamydiosis were also recorded. Significantly higher values for BVD-MD (p less than 0.005), IBR-IPV (p less than 0.01) and brucellosis (p less than 0.05) were found in animals over 1 year of age. No differences were recorded between herds or between male and female animals. The high concentration of wild and domestic ruminants grazing together in the flood plains during the dry season may be a major determinant of the high values observed. Traditional farmers, slaughterhouse workers and other people involved in livestock production are particularly at risk of contracting brucellosis and RVF because of the high prevalences in cattle and local habits favourable to their transmission.

Monovalent modified-live vaccine against bluetongue virus serotype 2: immunity studies in cows.

A challenge study was conducted to determine the efficacy of vaccination against bluetongue (BT) virus (BTV) serotype 2 in protecting cattle against infection. A group of 30 cows, vaccinated seven months previously with monovalent BTV-2 modified-live vaccine produced by Onderstepoort Biological Products in South Africa, were challenged subcutaneously with 2x 10(5.8)TCID50/ml of BTV-2 field isolate. All cattle originated from the same population in the Sardinian province of Oristano. Eight unvaccinated calves from a BTV-free herd also participated in this study; four were inoculated with BTV-2 and used as positive controls whilst the remaining four were used as negative controls to confirm that no BTV was circulating locally. Blood samples were taken from all animals three times a week for two months. Serum samples were tested for antibody against BTV using the competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (c-ELISA) and the virus neutralisation (VN) test. Virus isolation was attempted on the blood samples by intravenous egg inoculation followed by two blind passages in Vero cells. Virus titres following challenge were determined also. Of the 30 cows vaccinated, 29 were positive in the c-ELISA and demonstrated neutralising antibodies. At the time of challenge, 11 cows had no virus neutralising antibody while the remainder had low titres ranging from 1:10 (11 cows) to 1:20 (6 cows); two cows showed titres of 1:40 and 1:80, respectively. None of the cows showed signs of disease after challenge and no BTV was isolated from the blood of the 29 cows that had developed antibodies after vaccination. Commencing on day 9 post challenge, BTV-2 was isolated from the blood of the single cow that had not seroconverted following vaccination and from the blood of the unvaccinated controls. Viraemia lasted until day 21 post challenge. Neither BTV nor antibody was detected in the blood samples taken from the negative control group. These observations indicate that the monovalent BTV-2 modified-live vaccine protects most animals when challenged with field virus seven months post vaccination.