Long-term study (2005-2010) on the vaccination with BoHV-1 glycoprotein E-deleted marker vaccine in selected two dairy herds in Turkey.

A follow-up study from 2005 to 2010 was carried out in two herds where eradication programme for the bovine herpes virus-1 (BoHV-1) infection depends on the vaccination with inactivated glycoprotein E-deleted vaccine that was started in 2001 following the vaccination with inactivated conventional vaccine between 1999 and 2001. For serological screening, a total of 12,976 sera sampled over several sampling times approximately 6 months of interval during 5 years (2005-2010) were tested for glycoprotein E (gE)- and glycoprotein B-specific antibodies using ELISA. According to the serological evidence, the long-term persistence of BoHV-1 antibodies, success of marker vaccine, first vaccination time of the calves in herds regularly vaccinated, etc. were discussed in this paper. In conclusion, the vaccination programme using gE (-) marker vaccines, with making efforts to prevent the other factors about transmission of infection, was suggested for the eradication of BoHV-1 infection in Turkey as many EU countries. This is the first report on the BoHV-1 eradication programme in some dairy cattle in Turkey.

Molecular characteristics of bovine virus diarrhoea virus 1 isolates from Turkey: approaches for an eradication programme.

Forty pestivirus isolates sampled from cattle in Turkey between 2002 and 2007 were characterized according to 5' untranslated region (5'UTR) sequences and autoprotease (N(pro) ) gene sequences. The sampling of Bovine virus diarrhoea viruses (BVDVs) from 15 farms in five different regions indicated that BVDV 1-l (18/40, 45%) was the predominant genotype in Turkey; the samples also contained the genotypes 1-f (10/40, 25%), 1-b (7/40, 17.5%), 1-d (3/40, 7.5%), and 1-a (2/40, 5%), respectively.

The detection and genetic characterization based on the S1 gene region of BCoVs from respiratory and enteric infections in Turkey.

We investigated bovine coronavirus (BCoV) as an etiological agent in cattle with clinical respiratory and digestive signs using 147 feces and 199 nasal swab samples. A total of 18 test samples (16 feces and 2 nasal swap samples) were detected positive by ELISA and/or RT-PCR targeting the BCoV N gene. The partial S1 gene regions of BCoVs (An-4 and An-11) detected in feces samples from two herd-mate dairy calves were compared. Virological and serological results indicated that BCoVs are widespread in Turkey and are likely etiological agents in diarrhea cases in calves.

Border disease virus (BDV) infections of small ruminants in Turkey: a new BDV subgroup?

Blood samples from sheep and/or goats from eight small ruminant flocks in the Turkish provinces of Aydin and Burdur were tested for the presence of Pestiviruses using an antigen-capture ELISA. From clinically affected animals, pathological and immunohistochemical findings were recorded. Post mortem examination of a virus-positive lamb showing abnormal fleece and paralysis of the hind legs revealed nonsuppurative meningoencephalomyelitis with hypomyelinogenesis. By immunohistochemistry Pestivirus antigen was detected in all parts of the brain including cerebellum, cerebral hemispheres and midbrain. Two Pestivirus isolates from a sheep and a goat kid, respectively, were isolated from samples that were positive in the antigen-capture ELISA. Genetic typing using the 5'-NTR (288bp) and N(pro) (738bp) showed that both were Border disease virus (BDV) isolates. By phylogenetic analysis, they formed a cluster clearly separated from the known clusters BDV-1 to BDV-6 and might therefore represent a new subgroup (BDV-7?). This is the first report confirming the occurrence and partial characterisation of BDV infection in small ruminants in Turkey.

A sheeppox virus outbreak in Central Turkey in 2003: isolation and identification of capripoxvirus ovis.

Poxvirus epidemics occur almost every year and cause significant economic losses for small-scale animal producers in Turkey. In this study, the causative agent of the most recent epidemic in Central Anatolia was detected in clinical samples using electron microscopy (EM) and amplified using an in house polymerase chain reaction procedure for the first time. Additionally, the aetiological agent was isolated from a sheep and identified using EM and PCR.

Control and eradication programme of enzootic bovine leucosis (EBL) from selected dairy herds in Turkey.

Serum samples of 15,909 cattle from 31 dairy herds located in various regions of Turkey were tested for the presence of antibodies against bovine leucosis virus (BLV) using Agar Gel Immuno-diffusion technique (AGID). 48.3% (15/31) of the herds had seropositive animals and positivity rates were detected from 0.5-34.4% in these herds. In an EBL control/eradication programme all seropositive animals were culled in the infected herds. Thereafter, a total of 74,347 sera were tested for the presence of BLV specific antibodies. The serological results and detail of EBL control/eradication programme were shown in this paper.

Determination and phylogenetic analysis of canine distemper virus in dogs with nervous symptoms in Turkey.

In the present study, canine distemper virus (CDV) was investigated in 20 dogs having nervous signs arousing the clinical suspicion of canine distemper (CD). A total of 13 animals (65%) were stray dogs and had no accurate record about the vaccination history. Clinical examinations revealed that the majority (85%) of the animals showed systemic form characterised by predominantly nervous symptoms accompanied by mild respiratory system signs whilst the remaining cases (15%) recorded mainly respiratory distress. CDV RNA was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) only in 45% of the suspected cases. Phylogenetic analysis of partial nucleotide sequence of the P gene coding region revealed that the virus is closely related to European strains. Immune responses in 13 cases (65%), which were detected by dot-ELISA, indicated inefficient levels for neutralising functions against CDV. It was postulated that this response could have been mediated by either previous vaccination or mild infection with field strains.

Biotypic characterisation of bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in clinical samples.

In this study, bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) was detected and bio-typically characterised in clinical samples using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The RT-PCR technique produced two different amplicons (402 and approx. 680 bp in size) in case of the presence of both biotypes (cp and ncp) in the sample. The mixture of the biotypes as detected by RT-PCR was verified by the immunoplaque assay (IPA). Purification of biotypes was carried out by native plaque isolation and subsequent RT-PCR revealed single products (402 or approx. 680 bp in size) in each clone. The results showed that RT-PCR can be used for accurate molecular differentiation between the BVDV biotypes.

Epitopic characterisation of Turkish bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) isolates using monoclonal antibodies.

In this study, 15 bovine viral diarrhoea viruses (BVDV) isolated from the field in Turkey were characterised for their biotype, cloned and eventually analysed for their epitopic composition in terms of glycoprotein E2. Immunoplaque assay, plaque assay, limiting dilution and streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase techniques were used for biotype characterisation, cloning of cytopathic (cp) and noncytopathic (ncp) biotypes and epitope analysis, respectively. While 14 out of 15 BVDV isolates were distinguished as ncp biotype, 1 isolate was found to be containing both biotypes (cp + ncp). According to the reactivity patterns of isolates with 15 monoclonal antibodies, 4 different antigenic groups could be formed. There were no antigenic differences between the isolates derived from the same animal with various time intervals. On the other hand, biotype clones isolated from the same animal exhibited difference in one epitope. This is the first study describing antigenic characterisation of BVDV field isolates in Turkey.

Virological and serological studies on the role of PI-3 virus, BRSV, BVDV and BHV-1 on respiratory infections of cattle. I. The detection of etiological agents by direct immunofluorescence technique.

Nasal cells extracted from nasal swabs obtained from 95 cattle with signs of respiratory disease, out of eleven different herds, were tested for BHV-1, PI-3 virus, BRSV and BVDV using direct immunofluorescence technique. Viral antigen positive samples were detected in seven out of eleven herds examined. Of the 95 individual diseased cattle, 19 were found positive for at least one viral antigen. It was found that especially BHV-1 and PI-3 virus are important causative agents in cattle respiratory disease, both or in combination with other pathogenic agents. Multiple infection in virologically positive herds were observed in six (9.8%) of 61 animals tested. The findings reveal that single or multiple infections of selected viruses may be present in an important range in cattle and that direct immunofluorescence technique as a rapid method, based on the detection of viral antigen in nasal swab samples, is useful to establish the viral aetiology of acute bovine respiratory disease caused by these viruses, particularly in the diagnosis of mixed viral infections.

Antibody prevalence of caprine arthritis encephalitis virus (CAEV) in goats in Turkey.

In this study, a serological survey in goat herds for antibodies against Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis Virus (CAEV) in Turkey is described. 808 serum samples were collected from three state farms and seven private flocks in different regions of Turkey. The serologic examination was performed by Agar Gel Immunodiffusion (AGID) technique. 16 (1.9%) out of 808 sera deriving from two state farms (n = 14) and one private herd (n = 2) were found to be serologically positive. The findings are discussed with regard to the relatively low prevalence of CAEV in Turkey, age and race dependency and the kind of origin of the serologically screened animals.

Detection by cultural isolation of bovine virus diarrhoea (BVD) virus following field infections in cattle and their fetuses in Turkey.

Cultural isolation, identification and biotype characterization of BVD virus is based on monolayer tissue culture techniques using mainly organs of, e.g., bovine fetuses. These might have experienced a transplacental transmission and are therefore of no use for tissue cultures produced, e.g., from kidneys of such fetuses. In order to rule out BVD virus infections, fetuses must be tested for BVD virus, viral antigen or specific nucleotide sequences. BVD virus and other ruminant pestiviruses have been detected in Turkey by cultural isolation. In bovine fetuses BVD virus has not been demonstrated so far. Cultural isolation was attempted in the present investigation in 50 randomly selected pregnant cows which were brought to an abattoir. Of these cows serum samples were assayed for neutralizing antibodies to BVD virus and 40 (80%) found positive with titres > or = 1:40. In contrast fetuses 120 days of ontogenic age and therefore supposedly immunocompetent were derived from seropositive dams (n = 16) but did not show any neutralizing antibodies to BVD virus. Leucocyte fractions of peripheral blood samples of the 50 cows as well as 353 fetal blood and organ samples were inoculated and submitted to three passages in fetal calf kidney cell cultures before testing for BVD viral antigen by immunofluorescence technique. BVD virus was thus detected in the fetus of one seropositive cow and also in the leucocyte fraction of one seronegative dam including organs of her fetus. The number of fetuses found positive for BVD virus amongst fetuses collected in abattoirs corresponds well to figures gained by other investigators outside Turkey.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Investigation on the incidence of bovine viral diarrhoea virus in calves born with encephalopathy in Turkey.

The role of Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) virus in calves born with congenital brain abnormalities in western, southern and southeastern parts of Anatolia was investigated. 639 blood serum samples collected from cows which had aborted or given birth to calves with congenital abnormalities, from their offspring and from clinically healthy animals out of the above mentioned regions were tested for the presence of BVD antibodies. Additionally BVD virus isolation was performed with material obtained from cows which had aborted or given birth to calves with congenital abnormalities and from their offspring. Out of 639 blood sera 203 (31.7%) were found serologically positive, and from samples of 30 animals tested by direct immunofluorescence technique 13 (7 cows and 6 calves) BVD virus carriers could be demonstrated. The findings reveal that BVD virus infections might be a cause of malformations found in these calves born with congenital abnormalities of the central nervous system.

Sero-epidemiological and pathological studies on enzootic bovine leukosis in Turkey.

The prevalence of enzootic bovine leukosis (EBL) in Turkey was investigated by serological screenings using the agargel immunodiffusion test (AGID). A total of 4,047 blood samples obtained from 2,780 cattle between one and 14 years of age and taken in 6-8 month-intervals in three dairy farms were tested for the presence of EBL-specific antibodies. A high prevalence of EBL-sero-positive animals was found amongst cattle in two of the farms. Furthermore, recommendations based upon the regulation implemented by an expert group of the European Commission and considering the local dairy management conditions were presented.

A seroepidemiologic study of bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) in Turkey.

In this study, a survey of cattle for neutralizing antibodies to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in Turkey is presented. 490 serum samples were collected from several state farms and some private flocks in different regions of Turkey. The serologic examination was done by the microtiter serum-neutralization technique. In this report, a positive serum antibody titer at dilutions of 1:2 was demonstrated in 226 (46.12%) of the 490 sera tested.

[Determination of antibody levels against coxsackie B virus type 2 and type 3 in sera from blood donors using the microneutralization test]. / Kan donörlerine ait serumlarda Coxsackie B virus tip-2 ve tip-3'e karsi antikor düzeylerinin mikronötralizasyon yöntemi ile arastirilmasi.

The presence of antibodies and their titers against Coxsackie B virus type 2 and type 3 (CBV-2 and CBV-3) have been investigated in 208 blood donor's sera obtained from blood Bank of Gülhane Military Medical Academy. The seropositivity against Coxsackie B virus type 2 and type 3 have been determined 59.1% (123/208) and 7.2% (15/208) respectively. These findings suggest that Coxsackie B virus type 2 infections may be present more widely than Coxsackie B virus type 3 infections in our country.

[Respiratory syncytial virus antibody levels in the 13-25 age group of healthy people using a microneutralization test]. / 13-25 yas grubundaki saglikli kisilerde respiratory syncytial virus antikor düzeylerinin mikronötralizasyon testi ile arastirilmasi.

In this study antibody levels to Respiratory Syncytial virus were investigated in 181 serum samples obtained from healthy individuals by using microneutralization test. 25 out of 181 sera (13.8%) were found positive at 1/5 dilution. Serum neutralization50 (SN50) value of these sera were detected at different titers which varied from 1/7.08 to 1/79.5.