Prevalence of antibodies to bluetongue, bovine herpesvirus 1 and bovine viral diarrhea/mucosal disease viruses in water buffaloes in Minas Gerais State, Brazil.

A serological survey to detect water buffaloes with antibodies to bluetongue virus (BTV), bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV 1) and bovine viral diarrhea/mucosal disease virus (BVD/MDV) was performed in Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Precipitating antibodies against BTV were detected by the agar gel immunodiffusion test (AGID) in 54.4% of the serum samples tested. Microplate serum-neutralization tests revealed that 14.7% and 52.7% of the water buffaloes had antibodies to BHV 1 and BVD/MDV, respectively. The prevalence of antibodies to BTV in water buffaloes under two years old was significantly lower than in adults.