Absence of antibodies to foot-and-mouth disease virus in free-ranging roe deer from selected areas of Germany (2001-2002)

Blood samples (n = 223) of free-ranging roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) were collected from selected bunting grounds in Germany between October 2001 and October 2002. Samples originated from Lower Saxony (n=43) and North-Rhine Westphalia (n=108) within a 20-km area (cordon) cordoned off along the border of The Netherlands. This is adjacent to the area of a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak that occurred between 21 March and 22 April 2001 in The Netherlands. Negative control samples were taken from northern Germany (Schleswig-Holstein, n=72). Two different enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were used for the detection of antibodies against foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) serotype 0 strain Manisa. To confirm ELISA-positive results, a virus neutralization test was performed. All samples tested negative for antibodies against FMDV These results suggest that FMDV was not transmitted to free-ranging roe deer living in parts of Germany adjacent to the area affected by the 2001 foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in The Netherlands.