The purpose of this study was to investigate the presence of anti-enzootic leucosis virus antibodies and also to identify the association between seropositivity and management variables for this infection in cattle in the State of Alagoas, Brazil. A total of 17 herds were examined, totaling 341 animals, distributed in eight counties. The antibody detection was performed by the technique of agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID), using the antigen constituted of lipids and proteins from bovine leukosis virus. From the 341 samples analyzed, 95 (27.8%) were positive and the number of outbreaks was 12 (70.6%). Significant differences were observed for the variables: technical assistance (p<0.000), recent acquisition of animals (p=0.003), existence of maternity paddocks (p<0.000), and colostrum management (p<0.000). The enzootic bovine leukosis virus infection is present in the region studied and strict sanitary matters must be implemented to prevent spread of the virus, which will avoid losses in the cattle production chain.
BLV; diagnosis; epidemiology