Serological survey of lentivirus (maedi-visna/caprine arthritis-encephalitis) infection in British goat herds.

A serological survey for lentivirus infection was undertaken on a volunteer sample of 331 British goat herds. The prevalence of infected herds was 10.3 per cent and the prevalence of seropositive individual animals was 4.3 per cent. There was evidence of a geographical variation in the distribution of infection. Herds consuming pooled colostrum appeared to be at greater risk from infection. Approximately half the herds sampled had been established within the past six years. There was evidence of recently introduced infection in a relatively high proportion of infected herds.