title: Serological evidence of caprine herpesvirus 1 infection in Mediterranean France.
abstract: Caprine herpesvirus 1 (CpHV-1) is responsible of a systemic disease in kids and genital diseases inducing abortions in adult goats. In Europe, CpHV-1 is widespread in Mediterranean countries such as Greece, Italy and Spain. As France is geographically close to these countries, a survey was conducted to investigate the presence of CpHV-1 in goats in a Mediterranean department (Corse-du-Sud) and in continental departments (Dordogne and Vendée) of this country. Taking into account the close antigenic and genetic relationships between bovine herpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1) and CpHV-1, the serological detection was performed by using BoHV-1 glycoproteins B (gB) and E (gE) blocking ELISAs. The analysis of 2548 serum samples in a BoHV-1 gB blocking ELISA revealed that a ruminant alphaherpesvirus infection related to BoHV-1 was widespread in Corse-du-Sud whereas no positive animals was detected in Dordogne and Vendée. Furthermore, the specificity and the sensitivity of the BoHV-1 gB blocking ELISA to detect a BoHV-1 related infection in goats were evaluated. A subsequent analysis by a BoHV-1 gE blocking ELISA demonstrated that 22.6% of gB-positive serum samples were also gE-positive. Cross-seroneutralisation assays afforded the unambiguous identification of antibodies against CpHV-1 in gB-positive goats. The likely presence of CpHV-1 in Corse-du-Sud supported by a high seroprevalence (61.9%) in all investigated flocks extends the number of countries infected with CpHV-1. Moreover, the difference observed between Corse-du-Sud and Dordogne and Vendée suggests that CpHV-1 is more prevalent in Mediterranean countries or regions than in central and northern Europe.
authors.affiliation: Virology and Viral Diseases, Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thiry
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Saegerman
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chartier
authors.forename: Pascale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mercier
authors.forename: Véronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Keuser
authors.forename: Etienne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Thiry
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D015511:Goat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D006041:Goats; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D018140:Varicellovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D014764:Viral Proteins
chemical_list: D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins; C046998:bovine herpesvirus type-1 glycoproteins