TRANSMISSION AND CONTROL OF CAPRINE ARTHRITIS-ENCEPHALITIS VIRUS

  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 44  (9) , 1670-1675
Abstract
Caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus was isolated from goat milk and transmitted most efficiently to kids through milk and colostrum. It appeared that transmissions through other secretions of the doe occurred, but were less important than transmission in milk and colostrum. Intrauterine infection may have occurred in 2 of 32 cesarean-derived goats, but postpartum horizontal transmission could not be ruled out. Transmission by the aerosol route was not demonstrated, even short-term direct contact between virus-infected bucks and virus-free does during breeding did not result in transmission. Prolonged direct contact for > 12 mo. between weaned cesarean-derived goats and virus-infected goats was necessary before horizontal transmission could be demonstrated under nondairy conditions. When uninfected does were milked with infected does, a high percentage became infected in < 10 mo. Heat inactivation (56.degree. C) reduced .apprx. 105 median tissue culture infective doses of caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus to below titratable levels; virus was not transmitted to kids fed virus-infected colostrum that had been heated at 56.degree. C for 1 h. An eradication program is discussed in which kids are removed from their dams at birth, fed safe sources of colostrum and milk and isolated from other goats until weaning.