Pestivirus seroprevalence in sheep populations from inland and coastal zones of Turkey

Abstract

In this study, pestivirus seroprevalence was investigated by serum neutralisation test using the NADL strain of Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus (BVDV-NADL) in 2444 sheep blood serum samples collected from a total of 11 provinces in coastal (6) and inland (5) areas of Turkey. Overall pestivirus seropositivity was 18.94 % (463/2444) and the mean BVDV seroprevalence observed in the inland zone was significantly higher than in the coastal zone (p < 0.05). The distribution of antibody titres significantly differed between the coastal and inland sheep populations: proportions of intermediate titres (1:20-1:40) were markedly increased in the coastal area with a warm climate whereas low titres (1:5-1:10) were more frequently observed in the inland region with cold climate. Consequently, pestivirus infections would be enzootic in the inland area and climate, especially a cold climate, can play a major role in the virus incidence.