title: Long-term persistence of neutralising antibodies against bluetongue virus serotype 8 in naturally infected cattle.
abstract: Neutralising antibodies to bluetongue virus (BTV) in convalescent cattle have been described as persistent. Controlled laboratory studies, however, rarely last longer than a couple of weeks and long-term field data are lacking. This study followed twelve cattle that had been naturally infected with bluetongue virus serotype 8 (BTV-8) in Germany in 2006. Using ELISAs and a serum neutralisation test, we found a strong humoral immune response four to six years after the last exposure to BTV-8; based on data from long-term vaccine studies, it is highly likely that this coincides with immunity to reinfection with the same serotype.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eschbaumer
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eschweiler
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood*; D001819:Bluetongue / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001820:Bluetongue virus / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D014765:Viral Vaccines