01528nas a2200217 4500000000100000000000100001008004100002260007000043653001900113100001200132700001500144700001100159700001200170700001100182700001200193245014500205300001200350490000800362520092600370022001401296 2010 d c10/2010bSchlütersche Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KGaHannover10aIxodes ricinus1 aC Klaus1 aB Hoffmann1 aU Moog1 aU Schau1 aM Beer1 aJ Süss00aCan goats be used as sentinels for Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in nonendemic areas? Experimental studies and epizootiological observations a441-4450 v1233 aA goat flock grazing year-round on a meadow in a #147;TBE non-risk area #148; in Thuringia, Germany, with a history of only isolated human TBE cases was examined repeatedly for TBE virus-(TBEV)-specific antibodies and TBEV RNA between October 2008 and December 2009. Surprisingly, TBEV specific antibodies were detected in one goat, which had never left this area. To compare the results of a natural contact to TBEV with a defined contact to TBEV, two goats were immunized experimentally. Both animals developed TBEV-specific antibodies, one goat however in a delayed and reduced manner. In addition, 177 ticks were collected from the meadow in May and June 2009, and were examined by real-time RT-PCR. However, no TBEV RNA could be detected. The results suggest that goats can be used as TBEV sentinels in defined areas. To verify this observation further investigations with a large number of animals are recommended. a0005-9366