Veterinarska stanica, Vol. 52 No. 1, 2021.
Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.46419/vs.52.1.11
Arthritis Encephalitis Virus in goats in the Republic of Croatia in the period from 2012 to 2019: serological and molecular research
Besi Roić
; Croatian Veterinary Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
Dragan Brnić
; Croatian Veterinary Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
Andreja Jungić
; Croatian Veterinary Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
Zdravka Romac
; Croatian Veterinary Institute, Veterinary Department Split, Croatia
Lorena Jemeršić
; Croatian Veterinary Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
Tomislav Keros
; Croatian Veterinary Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
Jelena Prpić
; Croatian Veterinary Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
Antun Kostelić
; Faculty of Agriculture, Zagreb, Croatia
Dragutin Vincek
; Administrative Department of Agriculture, Varaždin County, Croatia
Abstract
Caprine arthritis and encephalitis (CAE) is a contagious and an economically important viral disease of goats. Caprine arthritis encephalitis virus (CAEV) is a member of the small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLV) that is distributed worldwide, including Croatia. Common symptoms resulting from CAEV infection include arthritis, pneumonia, indurative mastitis and encephalitis. One of the first and most common signs of CAEV infection is weight loss. However, many goats will not show any symptoms. Goats that do show symptoms may display swollen knees or carpal joints, exhibit reduced body condition, and develop a rough hair coat. Pregnant and nursing
does display a hard udder that is firm and swollen, and produce very little milk. During 2012 to 2019, a total of 10,715 blood serum samples were collected in 16 counties in Croatia and examined for the presence of CAEV specific antibodies using ELISA. Antibodies against CAEV were confirmed in 4353 (40.62%) of samples. As this is the
first such study to be carried out in Croatia, the results of molecular testing of selected SRLV strains indicate the circulation of the A and B genotypes in the Croatian goat population. The simultaneous presence of both genotypes A and B in a goat herd suggests that SRLV strains are not limited to one species, and that Maedi visna virus
(MVV) strains, which are mainly detected in sheep, also circulate in goats. The results of this eight-year study conducted by the Croatian Veterinary Institute (CVI) indicate the widespread prevalence of SRLVs in goat breeding in Croatia. It is known that once an infected, the individual remains a lifelong carrier and can spread the virus. This raises the issue of the success of entire production. In conclusion, the only long-term sustainable goat breeding is on CAEV-free goat farms.
Keywords
arthritis-encephalitis virus; goats, seroprevalence; polymerase chain reaction; phylogenetic analysis
Hrčak ID:
245550
URI
Publication date:
25.11.2020.
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