Serological Study on Brucella Spp. and Small Ruminant Lentivirus in Dairy Goats in Vojvodina

The objective of this study was to determine seroprevalence of small ruminant lentivirus (SRLV), Brucella abortus and Brucella melitensis infections among dairy goats in South Backa and Srem region in Vojvodina Province. The other aim was to determine the risk factors associated with SRLV infection in investigated herds. A total of 971 serum samples were collected from 8 comercial dairy goat herds distributed in these two districts. All collected samples were examined for antibodies against Brucella abortus and Brucella melitensis by an competitive enzyme linked immunosorbant assay (cELISA), and all yielded negative result. Sera from 216 goats older than six months were tested for antibodies against SRLV using commercialy available ELISA. A total of 73 goats in six herds tested seropositive for SRLV with overal seroprevalence of 33% indicating that the infected herds are evenly spread throughout these two regions. The prevalence of positive animals within the herds ranged from 0 to 100% and the prevalence rate of seropositive goats increased with age. On the herd level import of goats, herd size and rearing with sheep were the most significant risk factors. The result of present study indicates that SRLV infection exists in the goat herds in Vojvodina Province. It also provides an overwiev about most important risk factors connected with the disease in the examined herds. Specific antibodies against Brucella abortus and Brucella melitensis infection were not detected.