A Serological Investigation for Bovine Ephemeral Virus Infection in Aydın and Muğla Provinces

Bovine Ephemeral Fever (BEF) is a rhabdoviral disease transmitted through biting flies, characterized with acute fever, muscle stiffness, lameness, paralysis, and emaciation, relatedly can cause to important losses especially in dairy industry.The objective of this study was to obtain data for presence and prevalence of BEF infection in Aydın and Muğla provinces which previously have been seen in Aegean region. For this purpose, blood serum samples were taken from randomly selected 225 adult cattle from small family type dairy enterprises (Aydın-125 ve Muğla-100). Obtained serum samples were controlled for BEF virus specific antibodies using commercial blocking Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). BEF specific antibody presence was not detected in in any of the tested samples. Determined seronegativity was not shows that the virus has not consistent risk potential. According to the reports on previous years in the Aegean and some other regions, clinical reports and antigen detection depicts the infection have been emerging time to time. In the aspect of BEF like arboviral infection, risk is perpetual for the Aegean region that has relatively suitable climatic conditions for the biological vector of the virus. By the way, large scale and periodic surveys are necessary to reveal the epizootic dynamics of the infection.