Revue de Medecine Veterinaire, cilt.157, sa.12, ss.593-596, 2006 (SCI-Expanded)
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.