Absence of antibodies to foot-and-mouth disease virus in free-ranging roe deer from selected areas of Germany (2001-2002).
Blood samples (n = 223) of free-ranging roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) were collected from selected hunting grounds in Germany between October 2001 and October 2002. Samples originated from Lower Saxony (n = 43) and North-Rhine Westphalia (n = 108) within a 20-km area ("cordon") cordoned off along the border of The Netherlands. This is adjacent to the area of a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak that occurred between 21 March and 22 April 2001 in The Netherlands. Negative control samples were taken from northern Germany (Schleswig-Holstein, n = 72). Two different enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were used for the detection of antibodies against foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) serotype O strain Manisa. To confirm ELISA-positive results, a virus neutralization test was performed. All samples tested negative for antibodies against FMDV. These results suggest that FMDV was not transmitted to free-ranging roe deer living in parts of Germany adjacent to the area affected by the 2001 foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in The Netherlands.
Mouchantat
Susan
S
Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research Berlin, Alfred-Kowalke-Strasse 17, P.O. Box 601103, 10252 Berlin, Germany.
Haas
Bernd
B
Lutz
Walburga
W
Pohlmeyer
Klaus
K
Frölich
Kai
K
D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000821:virology; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D003670:Deer / Q000821:virology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D005536:Foot-and-Mouth Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D029544:Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus / Q000276:immunology*; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009500:Neutralization Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
D000914:Antibodies, Viral