PREVALENCE OF SMALL RUMINANT LENTIVIRUS INFECTIONS IN SHEEP AND GOATS IN SOME REGIONS OF VOJVODINA PROVINCE

Abstract

Small Ruminant Lentivirus causes a chronic lifelong, multisystemic diseases in sheep and goats with or without clinical manifestation. Maedi-visna virus (MVV) and Caprine arthritis encephalitis virus (CAEV) are often considered together as small ruminants lentivirus (SRLV) because of their phylogenetic correlation and the interspecies transmission between sheep and goats. During a five-year period, from 2014 to 2018, a monitoring on male animals (rams and bucks) used for breeding was conducted with the aim to determine antibodies against SRLV using ELISA serological method. In total, serum samples from 5,039 animals were analysed and the overall seroprevalence of 5.59% was found. The seroprevalence for the whole period was 5.15% in male animals while in female animals it was 6.15%. During the whole 2014-2018 period, seroprevalence was 4.52% in rams, 17.61% in bucks, 1.14% in sheep and 12.57% in goats. Compared to earlier studies and within the study period, the seroprevalence for SRLV actually decreased in rams and bucks. The study results show that annual monitoring program is very important and has to be conducted in the future in order to keep the disease under control. The program helps in raising awareness and familiarizing owners with SRLV and the importance of breeding seronegative animals.