Investigation of pestivirus infections in privately owned water buffaloes in Hatay province by virological and serological methods

A total of 150 sera and 100 genital swabs were sampled from healthy-appeared water buffaloes aged older than 3 months in 18 private farms in Kırıkhan, Hatay province. None of the blood and genital swab samples from water buffaloes was detected pestivirus nucleic acid. Pestivirus specific antibodies were detected in 84 (56%) of 150 water buffaloes here sampled. In general, the seropositivity rates at the enterprise level were determined between 0-100%. According to the breeding types, seropositivity rates in both mixed-breeding herds and in water buffalo herds were detected as 56%. The presence of virus-specific antibodies was detected in 47 of 81 female (58%) and 37 of 69 male animals (53.6%) from the seropositive animals. According to age groups, seropositivity was detected in 16 (45.7%) of 35 buffaloes aged 3-6 months and 68 (59.1%) of 115 buffaloes older than 6 months. The findings showed that the prevalence of pestivirus infection was high in water buffaloes as well different ruminant species in Turkey, and this research will guide future large-scale epidemiological studies, which will provide a better understanding of the epidemiological dynamics of pestivirus infection in water buffalo populations.