[Control and eradication of ovine and caprine brucellosis in Italy]

The prevention of ovine and caprine brucellosis in Italy is carried out in accordance with Regulation No 33 of 23 January 1968 and with Government Decree of 4 June 1968. The Regulation also provides in addition to sanitary measures, the vaccination of all livestock aged from 3 to 7 months with strain Rev. 1 of Br. melitensis. From the last trimester of 1968 until the end of 1974 3489514 young animals were vaccinated, which corresponds approximately to 50% of the animals today in the zones where the "revisation" was undertaken. An important decrease in the number of abortions was observed, with many epizootical advantages. During the same period a considerable decrease in human cases of brucellosis was observed; from the 19300 cases announced from 1965 to 1968 (yearly average: 4825) the figure fell to 18988 cases for the period 1969-1974 (yearly average: 3164).