Evaluation for Some Bacterial and Viral Abortions of Dairy Cattle Farms in Burdur District of Turkey

Abstract

In this study, the presence of antibodies to Brucella abortus, Chlamydophila abortus, Coxiella burnetii, Bovine herpesvirus-1 (BHV-1), Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) and Bovine herpesvirus-4 (BHV-4) were investigated in dairy cattle herds with abortion history in Burdur province, Southwest region of Turkey. The blood samples were collected from 932 dairy cattle ≥2 years of age from 10 herds not vaccinated against for mentioned infections and all of the serum samples were tested for B. abortus by ELISA. Seronegative herds for B. abortus were investigated for C. burnetii and C. abortus. While seropositivity for B. abortus and C. burnetii were detected 25.3% (236/932) and 10.2% (19/186), antibodies against C. abortus was not detected. Seronegative herds for B. abortus, C. burnetii and C. abortus were analysed for antibodies to BHV-1, BVDV and BHV-4 and seropositivity were found as 43.5% (40/92), 81.5% (75/92), 42.4% (39/92), respectively. BVDV antigen was determined in 2.2% (2/92) of the samples. As a result, we determined that C. abortus is not an important agent causing abortion in dairy herds in Burdur, but the seropositivity of B. abortus, C. burnetii, BHV-1, BVDV and BHV-4 are high. Thus, the herds should be tested for these infections regularly and control measures must be taken.