Survey for antibodies to selected viruses in laboratory mice in South Africa.
Serum samples (n = 184) from 3 conventional laboratory mouse colonies were tested for antibodies with an indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test to Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV), encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV), and reovirus Type 3. The percentage of mice with antibodies to reovirus Type 3, were comparable in all 3 groups, namely 40, 46 and 60%. Antibodies to TMEV showed the greatest variation, namely 0, 10 and 31%, whereas antibodies to EMCV were confirmed in only one colony (7%). In addition, 98 serum samples from 2 other colonies yielded 69% animals positive for rotavirus with the IFA test.
Van Vuuren
M
M
Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Medical University of Southern Africa, Medunsa, Republic of South Africa.
De Klerk
W A
WA
De Beer
M C
MC
Van Niekerk
T A
TA
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D051379:Mice; D015995:Prevalence; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral