Abstract
Serum samples were collected from cattle all over Kagoshima Prefecture. The positive rate of antibody against Akabane virus was 5.7% in cattle 0-4 years old and 77.4% in cattle 5 years and over when examined in October, 1971. It was 12.5% in cattle years old and 63.5% in cattle older than these when examined in November, 1975. It was 43.3% in cattle 0-1 year year old and 50.4% in all the cattle examined when determined in November, 1977.
These results indicated that an epixootic of Akabane virus infection took place in 1966 or earlier, in 1972, and in 1977. An antibody survey was conducted on sentinel cattle over a period of 1972 to 1977. It was confirmed from it that this virus was prevalent in 1972 and 1977. The occurrence of abnormal birth was noticed among cows in 1977. It was clarified that an epizootic of Akabane virus infection appeared in Kagoshima Prefecture in a cycle of 5-4 years.
