title: Prevalence of antibodies against Bubaline herpesvirus (BuHV-1) among Mediterranean water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) with implications in buffalo trade.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Both Bovine herpesvirus (BoHV-1) and Bubaline herpesvirus (BuHV-1) have been reported to cross the species barrier. Antibody seroconversion in glycoprotein E (gE) blocking ELISA during BuHV-1 infection has been documented. Recent diagnostic efforts have focused on the development and application of discriminatory tests to distinguish between infections with BoHV-1 and BuHV-1.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the impact and distribution of these two infections in water buffalo farms in two regions (Piedmont (n = 3) and Campania (n = 10), Italy) where infectious bovine rhinotracheitis control programs have been implemented.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sampling was carried out on 13 buffalo farms comprising 1089 animals using specific gE-indirect ELISA's test able to discriminate among BoHV-1 and BuHV-1 infections.
  
  
  RESULTS
  59.0% of animals reacted positive to ELISA (irrespective of whether BoHV-1 or BuHV-1 antigen was used) and 86.4% of these were reactive to BuHV-1 only, whereas 11.8% showed absorbance values for both antigens and were classified as inconclusive. There was a statistically significant age-related difference in BuHV-1 infection rates but not in overall individual (47% vs. 58%) or herd prevalence (100% vs. 90%) of infection between the two regions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The low percentage of sera reactive to BoHV-1 (1.8%, 12/643) indicates that BuHV-1 may be the main circulating alphaherpesvirus infection in Mediterranean water buffalo in the two study areas. Since Bubalus bubalis is included in Directive 64/432/EEC on animal health problems affecting intra-community trade in bovine animals, diagnostic testing with nonspecific ELISA for BoHV-1 infection in buffalo may yield false-positive reactions. This scenario could lead to economic losses and hamper buffalo trade and movement, particularly for reproduction purposes.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Virology , Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piedmont , Turin , Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Caruso
authors.affiliation: a Department of Virology , Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piedmont , Turin , Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Prato
authors.affiliation: a Department of Virology , Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piedmont , Turin , Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ingravalle
authors.affiliation: b Diagnostic Section of Salerno , National Reference Center on 'Hygiene and Technologies of Buffalo Breeding and Production', Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno , Salerno , Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vecchio
authors.affiliation: a Department of Virology , Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piedmont , Turin , Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sciarra
authors.affiliation: c Veterinary Local Service - ASL TO5 , Torino , Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ternavasio
authors.affiliation: a Department of Virology , Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piedmont , Turin , Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ceccarelli
authors.affiliation: b Diagnostic Section of Salerno , National Reference Center on 'Hygiene and Technologies of Buffalo Breeding and Production', Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno , Salerno , Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martucciello
authors.affiliation: c Veterinary Local Service - ASL TO5 , Torino , Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Galiero
authors.affiliation: b Diagnostic Section of Salerno , National Reference Center on 'Hygiene and Technologies of Buffalo Breeding and Production', Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno , Salerno , Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Carlo
authors.affiliation: d Diagnostic Section of Portici , Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno , Naples , Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Masoero
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D002020:Buffaloes; D002417:Cattle; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D006564:Herpesviridae / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D007242:Herpesvirus 1, Bovine / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007241:Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral
keywords: Alphaherpesvirinae; BoHV-1; BuHV-1; Bubalus bubalis; Water buffalo; cattle