Situation of Aujeszky's disease in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil, in 1984

Abstract

The serological surveillance to detect infection with Aujeszky’s disease virus (ADV) in swine in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil, was continued during 1984. A total of 13,375 sera were evaluated for the presence of neutralizing antibodies. Of these sera, 9.504 were from 68 of the 70 reproductive herds registered with the Pig Breeding Association of Santa Catarina. Neutralizing antibodies were not detected in 87% of the sera, while 13% were toxic for the indicator cells; of 395 sera obtained from five stations for the testing of reproductive boars, 85.1% were devoid of antibodies and 14.9% were toxic; 1,666 sera were from pigs from 33 reproductive herds sent to pig shows and fairs and 84.7% were free of antibodies and 15.3% were toxic; 1,769 sera from pigs from 33 fattening units had no antibody detected in 78% of the sera, 20% were toxic and 2% contained neutralizing antibodies and had come from five fattening herds, two of them with clinical Aujeszky's disease. ADV was isolated in cell culture from five of twelve brains samples from pigs suspected of having Aujeszky's disease. It is concluded that ADV is still the cause of infection and mortality in some fattening herds, while the reproductive herds in the State of Santa Catarina are free of infection with ADV.