Since Maedi/Visna disease (M/V) in one of the most important epizootic problems in sheep breeding, it is the subject of interest in many european countries. The purpose of the studies was to assess the epizootic status of infection with the M/V virus in sheep and to determine the dynamics of the infection in flocks by the horizontal way and the frequency of prenatal infections. The samples of blood, colostrum and milk served as the material for serological examinations by the agar-gel immunodiffusion test. The WLC-1 (gp 135 and 28) antigen was employed. Over 1000 animals (sheep), 243 lambs including 34 Iambs before their colostrum feeding, 112 lambs after colostrum feeding, 97 lambs in the course of rearing, 92 samples of colostrum and 30 samples of milk were examined. An average percentage of infections with the M/V virus in all the flocks was 54% (from 30 to 73% in individual groups). The highest indices of infections with the M/V virus (77.1%) were noted in the group of sheep aged between 3-4 years. At the same time the presence of antibodies in sera and colostrum of sheep was 53.3%. Milk samples taken from sheep with positive serological results turned out serologically negative. Of 30 lambs before colostrum feeding the presence of antibodies against the M/V virus was found in four cases (11.8%). That could indicate prenatal infections. On the basis of the presence of specific antibodies in sheep and lambs the passive transfer of antibodies by colostrum was confirmed.
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