Serological evidence and risk factors associated with Caprine herpesvirus 1 in dairy goat flocks in a semiarid region of northeastern Brazil

J Vet Diagn Invest. 2013 Jan;25(1):125-8. doi: 10.1177/1040638712470946.

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the flock-level seroprevalence of Caprine herpesvirus 1 (CpHV-1) and Bovine herpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1) and 2 (BoHV-2) and risk factors associated with CpHV-1 in dairy goat flocks from a semiarid region of northeastern Brazil. A total of 1,034 serum samples from 110 flocks were collected from March 2009 through March 2010. A structured questionnaire focusing on variables related to risk factors for CpHV-1 infection was given to each farmer at the time of blood collection. Antibodies against CpHV-1, BoHV-1, and BoHV-2 were detected by neutralization tests. The flock-level prevalences of CpHV-1, BoHV-1, and BoHV-2 were 89.1% (98/110; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 81.7-94.2), 80% (88/110; 95% CI: 71.3-87), and 4.5% (5/110; 95% CI: 1.5-10.3), respectively. Frequencies of seropositive animals were 36.6% (379/1,034), 25.8% (267/1,034), and 0.6% (6/1,034) for CpHV-1, BoHV-1, and BoHV-2, respectively. The use of natural mating was identified as a risk factor associated with CpHV-1 flock-level prevalence (P = 0.001). It is suggested that adoption of veterinary services and active surveillance of the at-risk flocks in the study region should be initiated to reduce the prevalence of herpesvirus infections.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood
  • Antibodies, Viral / immunology*
  • Brazil / epidemiology
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Goat Diseases / epidemiology
  • Goat Diseases / immunology
  • Goat Diseases / virology*
  • Goats
  • Herpesviridae Infections / epidemiology
  • Herpesviridae Infections / immunology
  • Herpesviridae Infections / veterinary*
  • Herpesviridae Infections / virology
  • Herpesvirus 1, Bovine / immunology
  • Herpesvirus 1, Bovine / isolation & purification*
  • Logistic Models
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Neutralization Tests / veterinary
  • Risk Factors
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Varicellovirus / immunology
  • Varicellovirus / isolation & purification*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral