Key result
Exposure to ovine pestiviruses was detected in 13 of 34 British sheep flocks, with 1 to 9 seropositive animals per positive flock of 15 tested.
Cross-Sectional (n=510)
Yes
Exposure to ovine pestiviruses is widespread among British sheep flocks, highlighting the need to investigate flock-level prevalence and production impacts.
Seropositivity across 38% of UK flocks signals possible undetected losses; leaves open flock-level prevalence and productivity impacts of endemic infection.
Ovine pestiviruses have the potential to reduce productivity in the British sheep flock. However, their prevalence and impact are currently poorly understood. This study aimed to estimate the exposure to pestiviruses in adult breeding ewe stock. Blood samples collected for metabolic profiling before lambing were tested using an ELISA that detected antibodies raised to both bovine viral diarrhoea virus and Border disease virus. A group of 15 animals were tested per flock. A total of 34 farms were tested, of which 13 had at least one seropositive animal. In those positive flocks between one and nine of the animals tested antibody-positive. Positive flocks were identified in all regions of Great Britain. This work suggests that exposure to ovine pestiviruses is widespread, and that it is timely to investigate flock-level prevalence and possible production impacts of endemic infection.
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Jennings et al. (2018) conducted a cross-sectional in Exposure to ovine pestiviruses (n=510). Exposure to ovine pestiviruses was evaluated on Seropositivity to ovine pestiviruses (antibodies to bovine viral diarrhoea virus and Border disease virus). Exposure to ovine pestiviruses was detected in 13 of 34 British sheep flocks, with 1 to 9 seropositive animals per positive flock of 15 tested.
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