Seroprevalence of Bovine Immunodeficiency‐virus (BIV) Antibodies in the Cattle Population in Germany

Abstract

Summary Serum samples from 380 cattle were analysed for the presence of bovine immunodeficiency‐virus (BIV) antibodies by focus immunoassay (cell‐ELISA) and immunofluorescence assay (IFA). All specimens originated from dairy farms in the eastern part of Germany, which had been randomly collected during the period 1989–1991. The cattle were clinically healthy and free of bovine leukaemia virus (BLV) and bovine‐virus diarrhoea‐virus (BVDV) antibodies. Infection of cell lines with BIV was monitored by syncytia formation, cell‐ELISA, and immunofluorescence. The seroprevalence of BIV antibodies was 6.6 %, as determined by cell‐ELISA. Comparison of IFA and cell‐ELISA showed that all IFA positive sera were also positive in cell‐ELISA. However, additional sera were reactive only in cell‐ELISA. This first report suggests that BIV infection may cause minor problems in German cattle, while BIV is present in a similar prevalence to that reported from other countries.

Seroprevalence of Bovine Immunodeficiency Virus and Bovine Leukemia Virus in Draught Animals in Cambodia.

“…Although, some of the macrophage functions, superoxide anion release, phagocytic activity, and chemotactic responsiveness were depressed, and a slight delay antibody responses against mouse serum proteins were observed in calves inoculated with BIV [21], the pathogenesis of BIV in disease cattle remains unclear. However, there is growing evidence that the BIV infection in cattle is widespread, since it has been reported in dairy and beef cattle in the USA [2,7,27], the Netherlands [13], New Zealand [12], Australia [8], the United Kingdom [6], Canada [16], Germany [17], France [23], Japan [11,14], Italy [4] and Korea [5] and in buffaloes in Pakistan [15]. The prevalence of BIV in dairy cattle is higher than beef cattle [2,5], but no information is available for draught animals at present.…”

Seroprevalence and Field Isolation of Bovine Immunodeficiency Virus.

“…This virus was subsequently identified as a lentivirus having molecular, antigenic, genetic and structural similarities to HIV-1 [10,11] and this finding raised questions about the relevance of BIV for veterinary and human medicine. Since the first report of BIV in 1972, prevalence of BIV infection has been reported in the United States [1,7,24], New Zealand [13], Switzerland [14], Australia [9], the United Kingdom [6], Canada [15], Germany [16], France [22] and Japan [12].…”

Seroprevalence of Bovine Immunodeficiency Virus and Bovine Leukemia Virus in Dairy and Beef Cattle in Hokkaido.

“…Since its recognitions as a lentivirus in the late 1980s, seroepidemiological evidence indicates that BIV infection has a worldwide distribution. Serological surveys have shown the presence of seropositive cattle in the USA [23], Canada [11], the Netherlands [10], New Zealand [9], Germany [17], France [20], Great Britain [21], Japan [12], Costa Rica [8], Italy [3], Australia [5], Korea [4], in water buffalo in Pakistan [15], in draught animal in Cambodia [13], Indonesia [1] and Brazil [14]. However, conclusive evidence that BIV causes immunodeficiency in cattle has not been established.…”