[Serological investigations in the diagnosis of viral infections derived from cattle in sheep].

In the coast region of the north-west of Germany 269 arbitrary chosen blood samples of 22 flocks of sheep were tested for the existence of BHV-1, BVD and PI-3 antibodies. The livestock of 13 farms with 163 sheep consistent of sheep and bovine, 9 herds with 106 sheep kept sheep only. The results show that BHV-1 antibodies were not present in the sampled sheep. Contrary to this are the results for BVD and PI-3. The blood tests for BVD antibodies were positive in 6.7% of the samples. This result indicates a low prevalence rate of BVD virus in the investigated region. The positive results showed distinct differences in distribution for the two farm types. Out of all BVD antibody positive reactors (n = 18) 83% were located in 7 farms keeping sheep and cattle. The rest of the positive reactors (17%) was found on 2 farms keeping sheep only. For PI-3 the distribution of farms keeping sheep plus cattle vrs. keeping sheep only concerning the antibody positive stocks was 7 positive herds out of 13 vrs. 6 positive herds out of 9. Again within the sheep herds of the two farms types occurred significant differences. Farms with sheep and cattle had 19% to 76% PI-3 antibody positive blood samples and farms with sheep only 1% to 11%.