Investigation of border disease infection in sheep and goat farms with abort problems

In this study, it was aimed to investigate the presence and prevalence of pestivirus infection in blood and ear notch samples collected from small ruminant animal herds in Burdur province. The samples were collected from the enterprises located in the villages of the city center where small ruminant animal husbandry is intense. For this purpose, a total of 37 small ruminant enterprises where the study was carried out were visited between April 2021 and April 2022. In line with the anamnesis information obtained from the owners of the enterprises, a total of 100 whole blood and ear notch samples, 74 of which were sheep and 26 of which were goats, were taken from 6445 small ruminant animals registered in the enterprises. The samples were examined for Pestivirus by Ag-ELISA and RT-PCR technique. Only 3 (3%) of the whole blood samples taken from a total of 100 small ruminant animals by Ag-ELISA test were found positive for the presence of pestivirus antigen. While the positivity rate for the presence of pestivirus antigen in goats was 11.5% (3/26), the presence of pestivirus antigen was not detected in any of the sheep. The pestivirus infection rate in goats aged 1-3 years was 15.3% (2/13), and the infection rate in goats aged 4 years and older was 7.7% (1/13). As a result of the examination of ear notch samples with Ag-ELISA test, the presence of pestivirus antigen was not found in both animal species. By RT-PCR test, 40 (40%) of the whole blood samples taken from a total of 100 small ruminant animals were found positive for the presence of pestivirus nucleic acid. While the positivity rate for the presence of pestivirus nucleic acid in sheep was 51.3% (38/74), this rate was 7.7% (2/26) in goats. The pestivirus infection rate in sheep between 1-3 years of age was 52.3% (22/42) and 50% (16/32) in 4 years and older. While pestivirus infection was not found in goats between 1-3 years of age, the infection rate in goats aged 4 years and over was 15.3% (2/13). By RT-PCR test, 22 (22%) of the ear notch samples taken from a total of 100 small ruminant animals were found to be positive for the presence of pestivirus nucleic acid. While this rate was 27% (20/74) in sheep, it was 7.7% (2/26) in goats. The pestivirus infection rate in sheep between 1-3 years of age was 33.3% (14/42) and 18.75% (6/32) in 4 years and older. While the infection rate was 15.3% (2/13) in goats between one and three years of age, no infection was found in goats aged 4 and over. In the study, only one male sheep sample was taken, but the presence of pestivirus antigen and nucleic acid was not found. No samples were taken from male goats. As a result, with this study, the presence of infection in small ruminant enterprises has been determined and it is thought that it will contribute to the new studies planned in the future and the protection and control strategies to be taken.