Serological diagnosis of Aujeszky's disease: a comparison between reactions of blood samples from sows and their offspring

Abstract

Blood sera from sows and their piglets were compared for their suitability for the serological diagnosis of Aujeszky's disease. Within a few days after parturition, blood and colostrum samples were collected from a total of 104 sows from 8 different gI-vaccinated breeding herds. Three piglets of each litter were bled simultaneously with their mother and again 3 weeks later. All 416 sera reacted positively in the screening for vaccination-induced antibodies. Using the gI ELISA, the sera of 16 sows and their offspring reacted positively, while 86 sows and their piglets reacted negatively and 2 sows and their piglets showed reactions near the test-cutoff. By testing piglets from another 1,300 sows in 37 farms, the practicability of the proposed method was proved. Blood samples were taken at intervals of 4 to 6 weeks from piglets of all sows, which had farrowed in the meantime. Within a six to nine months period, the serological status of a breeding herd could be established.