The Global control of FMD-Tools , ideas and ideals – Erice , Italy 14-17 October 2008 377 Appendix 67 DETECTION OF PERSISTENTLY FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE INFECTED CATTLE BY SALIVARY IGA TEST

The new European council Directive 2003/85/EC on FMD has made provision for vaccination and the use of post-vaccination serosurveillance to detect sub-clinical infection. Carrier state can develop following clinical or sub-clinical disease, even in vaccinated ruminants exposed to live virus. Since carriers may be considered a risk for transmitting infection, they must be identified by post-vaccination serosurveillance to substantiate freedom from infection and to regain the FMDfree status for the purpose of international trade. Therefore the main aim of this study was to develop and validate an indirect IgA ELISA for the detection of persistently FMDV infected cattle.