Serologische Untersuchungen zur endemischen Situation der Infektion mit dem FSME-Virus in einer südbadischen Pferde- und Hundepopulation

population in southwestern Germany To determine the expansion of TBE infection of horses, this seroepidemiological study took place in a known endemical area, the western Bodensee/ Hochrhein region, in which the horses (n= 205) were chosen randomly. In this area the anti-body development was tracked by testing the sample three times over one year. The existence of TBE antibodies in dogs (n= 243) were also checked in the same area over the same period. A commercially obtainable ELISA (Labor Alomed, Radolfzell) was used in this anti-body determination. Random samples of the results were double checked by a neutralisation test (reference method, Baxter-Immuno, A-Orth a.d. Donau, Austria). In the first examination 48 out of 205 horses in the chosen population were tested positive. The percentage of seropositive horses in the examination area increased significantly from east to west (p= 0,001), which allowed the classification of a highly endemical area (31 % positive) and a lower endemical area (4 % positive). The anti-body titer increased significantly during the examination period. The probability of the seropositivity of a horse depended if (p= 0,001) and how often the horse visits pastures (p= 0,021). The percentage of seroreagents increased with the age of the horses (p= 0,011). A racial or sex disposition was not present. The serological examination of the dogs resulted in 71 seroreagents out of 243 (29,2 %). A geographical westward increase was noticed; however the area could not be marked out as well as could be done with the horses. This result can be explained by the higher mobility of the dogs within an area in comparison to the horses. The features: Length of fur (p= 0,015), Colour shades (p= 0,004), frequent forest contact (p= 0,001) and age (p= 0,011) are significant for dogs. A disposition for size and sex is not relevant. The probability of seropositivity of a dog increased with the features “long, fair fur” and “frequent forest contact”. The seropositivity increased with the age of the dogs; dogs younger than one year and older than 12 years had much less antibodies against the TBE virus. Zusammenfassung 131 Dogs and horses are good indicators for mapping endemical areas, because they often show seroconversion and normally have a high exposure to ticks because of the way they are kept. The proportion of the seroreagents of dogs and their average number of antibody titers in the research area were significantly higher than the average number of the. horses. Due to the result of this serological research with dogs, an endemical area can be spottet with a higher probability. Horses can then be used to narrow in the endemic areas and to find “hot spots” in low endemic areas. During the period of the research no symptoms were observed, which could give hints of a possible TBE infection, in either horses or dogs. In recent months some owners of seropositive animals have reported occurrences of bad health and temporary high temperatures which may or may not be related to TBE.

Level thesis:degree_level

thesis.doctoral

Grantor dc:publisher

Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität

Year

2003

Author dc:creator

• Janitza-Futterer, Dorothee

Repository record source_url

https://edoc.ub.uni-muenchen.de/1125/

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:edoc.ub.uni-muenchen.de:1125