Serological survey of caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus in 83 goat herds of Yucatan, Mexico

A survey was conducted between June and September 2000 in order to detect antibodies against caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus (CAEV) in 83 goat herds in the state of Yucatan, Mexico. A total of 1078 goats older than 4 months of age (mostly of Criollo breed) were sampled in the survey. An agarose gel immunodiffusion (AGID) test showed that three herds (3.6%) were seropositive to CAEV. In those herds a total of four animals sampled were seropositive (0.4%). All of the seropositive goats were imported to the Yucatan either from the neighboring Mexican state of Campeche or the United States of America (USA). These results highlight the need for implementation of control policies in Yucatan and careful monitoring of this goat population in order to ensure a continued low seroprevalence of CAEV. Policies of “rural development” and “genetic improvement” through animal imports, either governmental or private, must take into account the possibility of causing an increase in seroprevalence of CAEV in Yucatan.