The aim of this study was to determine the pestivirus, bluetongue virus and peste des petits ruminants virus using serological methods in goats and sheep in Samsun Province. For this purpose, blood samples randomly collected from 144 sheep and 50 goats were analysed for the presence of antibodies against pestiviruses, BTV and PPRV using an enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Since pestiviruses cause persistent infection, antigen tests have also been performed for this agent. Seropositivity rates in sheep were detected as zero %, 3.47 % and 90.27 % for BTV, PPRV and pestiviruses, respectively. In addition, the pestivirus antigen was detected in three samples of sheep sera. Positivity rates for infections in goats varied and were as follows: BTV 4 %, PPRV 2 %, and pestiviruses 10 %. However, no pestivirus antigen was detected in goats. The results revealed that pestiviruses are more common than other infectious agent in Samsun province of northern Turkey.

Abstract: In Turkey, there is a lack of information about the frequency and etiology of abortions in breeding water buffalo. In this study, the presence of Bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV), Bovine herpes virus-1 (BHV-1), Neospora caninum and Brucella abortus were investigated serologically in 82 domestic water buffaloes in the Samsun province of northern Turkey. Seropositivity rates for BVDV, BHV-1, N. caninum and B. abortus were found to be 68.3% (56/82), 80.5% (66/82), 28% (23/82) and 2.4% (2/82), respectively. This preliminary study, therefore, indicates for the first time that neosporosis and brucellosis exists in domestic water buffaloes and may contribute, either individually or in association with other agents to abortions in breeding water buffalo.