ANTIGEN EVALUATION FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF LENTIVIRUS IN GOAT HERDS UNDER AND NOT UNDER A CONTROL PROGRAM

ABSTRACT Caprine arthritis encephalitis is an infection caused by lentivirus and found on all the continents with a high prevalence in the more technified milk production flocks, causing considerable economic losses for goat production. The aim of this work was the comparison, by Agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID), between the diagnosis using a national test produced with the strain CAEV Cork and an American commercial kit in a controlled flock and in another flock without a control program for goat lentivirosis. The controlled flock had been under control for twelve years by Embrapa Goats, while the other flock was infected by CAEV and had not undergone any previous program of control. Analyzing the results of the antigens (national and American) in the uncontrolled flock, it was verified that when the antigen was used for the first time, the American commercial antigen showed more significative results than the national one. In the controlled flock the national antigen detected a higher number of cases. Analysis of the data revealed the importance of the diagnosis kits in caprine arthritis encephalitis control programs, as seen in the variation of the responses to the diagnosis according to the expressed protein for the virus.摘要 山羊关节炎脑炎（Caprine arthritis encephalitis）是由慢病毒（lentivirus）引发的感染性疾病，在全球各大洲均有分布，在机械化程度更高的奶山羊养殖群中流行率较高，给山羊养殖业造成了可观的经济损失。本研究旨在通过琼脂凝胶免疫扩散试验（Agar gel immunodiffusion, AGID），对比以CAEV科克株（CAEV Cork）制备的国产诊断试剂与美国商业试剂盒，分别在经防控羊群与未实施山羊慢病毒病防控方案的羊群中的诊断效果。该经防控羊群已由Embrapa开展了12年的山羊防控工作，而另一羊群已感染CAEV且未实施过任何防控方案。对未实施防控的羊群的抗原（国产与美国产）检测结果进行分析后证实，首次使用该抗原时，美国商业抗原的检测显著性优于国产抗原。在经防控羊群中，国产抗原检出的阳性病例数更多。对数据的分析表明，诊断试剂盒在山羊关节炎脑炎防控方案中具有重要价值，这一点可从不同病毒表达蛋白对应的诊断反应差异中得到佐证。