Investigation of Pestivirus Infections in Aborted Sheep and Goats in Burdur Region

Abstract

In this study, the presence of pestivirus reported as an important cause of abort cases in sheep and goats was investigated serologically and virologically in aborted sheep and goats. For this purpose, serum and leukocyte samples from 735 aborted sheep and 35 aborted goats, tissue samples (lung, spleen, brain) from 48 aborted or stillborn lambs were collected and these samples were tested by ELISA for the presence of pestivirus antigen and antibody. 475 (64.6%) of 735 aborted sheep and 2 (5.7%) of 35 aborted goats were seropositive for the presence of antibody to pestivirus. Also, the presence of pestivirus antigen was detected in only 5 (0.7%) of leukocyte samples collected from aborted sheep and in only 5 (10.4%) of tissue samples of aborted lambs belonging to them, whereas not detected in any of aborted goats. In conclusion, the results of this study that was done the detection of specific antigen and the detection of high seroprevalence in aborted sheep and aborted lambs belonging to them have brought up that infections of pestivirus are very widespread in Burdur province and that pestivirus is an important cause of abort cases in sheep in this province.