LA VIGILANCIA ACTIVA Y PASIVA DE LA ENCEFALOPATíA ESPONGIFORME BOVINA EN CUBA

in the present study, the bovine population over 24 months of age in cuba was characterized. it is considered the one with the highest risk to contract bovine spongiform encephalopathy. the results of the disease active and passive surveillance program from 2001 to 2008 are also shown. the results showed that the 60.5 % of the total bovine population in cuba is in the age of risk. bovines brains cases belonging to both types of surveillance active and passive were researched, and 88,7% of the total corresponds to the total amount of reports notified to the epidemiological surveillance system at the veterinary medicine institute under clinic suspicion of nervous disorders. it shows that a more effective surveillance towards the disease is being carried out in the country. bovine subpopulation of risk in most of the cases researched was that under suspicion of nervous disorders (passive surveillance); thus, both types of surveillance are important and are carried out simultaneously. from the disease differential diagnostic; the 11 main causes were determined, being the main ones by hemoparasites, malnutrition and intoxications. all the cases researched, depending on the type of surveillance were negative to the disease, according to the absence of compatible injuries. therefore, it is demonstrated that there is no evidence of the disease in the country.