Serological investigation of the presence of orf virus in sheep, goats, lambs, and kids showing clinical symptoms of ecthyma disease

50 sheep, 50 goats, 50 lambs and 50 kids of different breeds, genders and ages showing clinical symptoms of ecthyma disease (sores on lips, gums, tongue, cheeks, nose and udder) found in the hands of the public in Burdur-Center and its districts were selected and blood samples of these animals were collected. Orf virus (ORFV) ELISA (IgM) seropositivity in lambs according to age; 8 in 1-month-old lambs (16%), 4 in 2-month-old lambs (8%) and 2 in 3-month-old lambs (4%), in kids was determined as 4 (8%) in 1-month-old kids, 3 (6%) in 2-month-old lambs and 1 (2%) in 3-month-old lambs. When the Orf virus ELISA (IgM) test results were evaluated according to gender; 12 seropositivity was detected in female lambs (24%), 2 in male lambs (4%), 6 in female kids (12%) and 2 in male kids (4%). When evaluated according to breed; 7 seropositivity was determined in Chios lambs (%14), 1 in Merinos lambs (%2), 6 in Akkaraman lambs (%12), 1 in Hair goat kids (%2), 1 in Honamlı kids (%2), and 6 in Saanen kids (%12). When the ORFV ELISA (IgG) test results in sheep were evaluated according to age; 1 seropositivity was detected in 1- year-old sheep (2%), 2 seropositivity was detected in 2-year-old sheep (4%), 2 seropositivity was detected in 3-year-old sheep (4%), 3 seropositivity was detected in 4-year-old sheep (6%), while no seropositivity was detected in 5-year-old sheep. ORFV ELISA (IgG) test results in goats were evaluated according to age; while no positivity was detected in 1-year-old goats, 2 seropositivity was found in 2-year-old goats (%4), 2 seropositivity in 3-year-old goats (%4), 3 seropositivity in 4-year-old goats (%6), and 3 seropositivity in 5-year-old goats (%6). ORFV ELISA (IgG) test results in sheep were evaluated according to gender; 6 seropositivity was detected in female sheep (12%), 2 in male sheep (4%) and 7 in female goats (14%) and 3 in male sheep (6%). When the ORFV ELISA (IgG) test results in sheep were evaluated according to breed; Chios breed, Merinos breed, Akkaraman breed, 5 (10%), 2 (4%) and 1 (2%), respectively. In goat breeds, seropositivity was found positive in 5 Saanen breed (10%), 3 Hair goat breed (6%) and 2 Honamlı breed (4%). When the ORFV IgM seropositivity level in lambs and kids was evaluated in terms of gender and breed, no statistical difference was found (p>0,05). However, it was found that ORFV IgM positivity level increased as age decreased in lambs and kids (p<0,001). According to the Orf virus ELISA (IgG) test results in sheep and goats, no statistically significant difference was found between age, gender and breeds (p>0,05). As a result, it was determined that age, gender and breed were not important in the diagnosis of ecthyma cases caused by ORFV in sheep and goats, and gender and breed were not important in lambs and kids. However, we recommend its use in the diagnosis of ecthyma because the ORFV IgM positivity level becomes higher and more significant as the age of lambs and kids decreases. Keywords: Echtyma, Sheep, Goat, Lamb, Kid, Orf Virus, SerologyKeywords: Echtyma, Sheep, Goat, Lamb, Kid, Orf Virus, Serology.