Peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV, genus Morbillivirus), which causes a severe disease in sheep and goats, has only recently been officially declared to be present in Turkey. We carried out a study to determine the prevalence, distribution, and host range of PPRV in Turkey. A total of 1,607 animals, reared in 18 different locations, were monitored for the presence of antibodies to PPRV and the related virus of large ruminants, Rinderpest virus (RPV). Only two farms had animals that were free of antibody responses to either disease. Prevalence for PPRV infection varied (range 0.87%–82.6%) and was higher in sheep (29.2%) than in goats (20%). The overall antibody responses to PPRV and RPV were 22.4% and 6.28%, respectively. Two PPRVs of lineage 4, which comprises many other PPRVs whose origins are in the Middle East, the Arabian Peninsula, and southern Asia, were isolated from Turkish sheep.

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Foot-and-mouth disease is one of the most important viral diseases of cloven-hoofed animals. Mass vaccination is an effective method to control the disease and is frequently utilized in endemic regions. Sufficient protection of young animals is important in mass vaccination campaigns. Maternal antibodies negatively affect the success of vaccination. Hence, determination of the optimal vaccination age is crucial for the uninterrupted protection of young animals. This study was performed to identify the effect of vaccine potency and booster administration on serum neutralizing antibody titers of calves with different levels of maternal antibodies. Calves (n = 111) on a state farm were used in this study. Oil adjuvant foot-and-mouth disease vaccines with 3 PD50 and 6 PD50 potencies were used with or without booster administration. Serum samples were collected each month up to day 120 postvaccination. Virus neutralization tests were used to measure the serum neutralizing antibody titers and estimate the protection period by using pre-determined cut-off values for protection. The results revealed that a vaccination with a 6 PD50 potency vaccine, preferably followed by a booster dose, should be used to overcome maternal immunity for incessant protection.

PurposeOne of the most important tools against foot-and-mouth disease, a highly contagious and variable viral disease of cloven-hoofed animals, is vaccination. However, the effectiveness of foot-and-mouth disease vaccines on slowing the spread of the disease is questionable. In contrast, high potency vaccines providing early protection may solve issues with the spread of the disease, escaping mutants, and persistency. To increase the potency of the vaccine, additives such as saponin and aluminium hydroxide are used. However, the use of saponin with an oil adjuvant is not common and is sometimes linked to toxicity. QS-21, which is less toxic than Quil A, has been presented as an alternative for use with saponin. In this study, the addition of QS-21 to a commercially available foot-and-mouth disease water-in-oil-in-water emulsion vaccine was evaluated in cattle.Materials and MethodsAfter vaccination, serum samples were collected periodically over 3 months. Sera of the QS-21 and normal oil vaccine groups were compared via serum virus neutralization antibody titre and liquid phase blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay antibody titre.ResultsThe results showed that there was a significant early antibody increase in the QS-21 group.ConclusionStrong early virus neutralizing antibody response will be useful for emergency or ring vaccinations against foot-and-mouth disease in target animals.

Two genotypes of foot-and-mouth disease virus serotype A were identified as the cause of disease outbreaks in Turkey during 1996-2004, while serotype O strains, identified during the same period, seem to represent an evolutionary continuum, and Asia1 strains were only rarely identified. The data presented are concordant with the conclusion that serotype A strains are repeatedly introduced to Turkey from the east and circulate only transiently in farming communities, while type O strains persist and re-emerge from endemic areas of Turkey. The co-circulation of strains belonging to two A genotypes for 6 years, as observed in the present study, is a remarkable difference compared to previous decades in which only one A genotype was transiently circulating, successively being replaced by others. This co-circulation was observed in spite of enforcement countrywide of biannual vaccination of more than 50% of the cattle during the same period. Mean r(1) values of 0.70 +/- 0.19 and 0.39 +/- 0.04 found for A96 and A99 isolates, respectively, compared to the A96 vaccine component reveal antigenic differences but also imply that the vaccine in use in Turkey should provide protection against both genotypes. It is suggested that further studies to reveal the nature of the difference in epidemiological dynamics of type A and type O strains might lead to an understanding of the measures required to control foot-and-mouth disease in islands of persistent circulation.

Purpose Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and anthrax are important diseases in sheep. Vaccination is a favorable strategy against both infections. Simultaneous administration of vaccines does generally not impede the immune responses of each other, although there are some exceptions, and it may help reduce the labor and costs of vaccination as well as distress on animals. Although oil adjuvant FMD vaccine has been tried with live anthrax vaccine in cattle, there are no reports on the simultaneous use of both vaccines in sheep. Materials and Methods In this study, FMD seronegative sheep were used to investigate the impact of the simultaneous vaccination of FMD and anthrax on FMD antibody titers of sheep. Virus neutralization test and liquid phase blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used to determine the antibody response to the FMD vaccine. Results The results demonstrated that both vaccines can be used simultaneously without any interference with the FMD response. Moreover, the simultaneous administration with anthrax vaccine had a stimulating effect on the early (day 7 post-vaccination) virus neutralization antibody response to the FMD vaccine. Conclusion The simultaneous use of the FMD and anthrax vaccines did not hinder the response to the FMD vaccine in sheep.

Özet: Bu çalışmada, bir ticari aşı (ScourGuard@(K),Pfizer) ile aşılanan sıgırlarda BRV ve BCV spesifik bagışıklıgın düzeyi ile yeni doganIarın enfeksiyonunda pasif bagışıklıgın rolü incelendi. Bu amaçla gebeliginin 3. trimesterinde bulunan 41 sıgırdan 2 grup oluşturuldu. Grup I'de bulunan sıgırlara ticari aşı prospektüsüne göre aşı uygulandı. Grup II ise kontrol grubu olarak degerlendirildi. Her iki gruptaki sıgırlardan aşı uygulamalanna paralel, dogum yaptıkları gün (L.gün) ve sonraki 3, 7, 14, 21 ve 28. günlerde kan, gaita ve kolostrum/süt (aşı uygulama dönemleri hariç) örnekleri; yeni dogan buzagılardan dogum sonrası 3, 7, 14,21,28. günlerde kan ve gaita örnekleri alındı. Kan ve kolostrumlsüt örnekleri BRV ve BCV spesifik antikorlar yönünden mikronötralizasyon, gaita örnekleri BRV ve BCV antijeni yönünden ELlSA ile kontrol edildi. Elde edilen verilere göre, aşı uygulanan ve aşı uygulanmayan sıgırlara ait kan serumu ve kolostrum/süt örneklerindeki antikor seviyeleri ile yeni dogan buzagıların pasif bagışıklık düzeyi ve enfeksiyona maruz kalma oranları karşılaştırmalı olarak degerlendirildi. Aşı uygulamasını takiben erişkin sıgırlarda aşı etkenlerine spesifik antikor yanıtında belirgin bir artış saptanamadı. Ancak aşı uygulanan ve aşı uygulanmayan annelerden dogan buzagılarda enfeksiyona maruz kalma oranlannın sırasıyla %30.0 ve %54.5 oldugu belirlendi.Anahtar kelimeler: AŞı, coronavirus, maternal bagışıklık, rotavirus, Si gır.Level of the passiye immunity in calves from cows vaccinated for neonatal calf diarrhea Summary: In this study, the level of the BRV and BCV specific immunity in cows which vaccinated with a commercial vaccine (ScourGuard@(K),pfizer) and the role of the passiye immunity in newborns' infections were investigated. For this aim two groups were organised from 4 i cows in their 3 rd trimaster of pregnancy. Group I cows were vaccinated according to the prosedure of the commercial vaccine. Group II cows were used as a control. At the time of the vaccination, at the calving day (l st day) and at 3,7,14,21 and 28 th day s after calving, blood, feces and colostrumlmilk (except vaccination period) samples from cows in each group; from newbom calves at 3,7,14,21,28 lh days after birth blood and feces samples were collected. Blood and colostrumlmilk samples were controlled for the presence of BRV and BCV antibodies using microneutralisation technique. Feces were tested for BRV and BCV antigen by ELlSA. The antibody titers in blood sera and colostrumlmilk from cows, levels of the passiye immunity of newbom calves and the infection rates of calves were evaluated comparatively for Group I and II cows, their calves. Data show n that following the vaccination no remarkable specific antibody increase against vaccine antigens (BRV and BCV) was detected in cows. However the infection rate of calves bom from vaccinated and unvaccinated cows were 30.0% and 54.5%, respectively.Key words: Cattle, coronavirus, maternal immunity, rotavirus, vaccine. GirişYeni doğan buzağı ishallerinde cryptosporidium, en-

Inactivated conventional vaccines against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) are used routinely in endemic countries and are effective against clinical disease. Increased systemic IgG levels can be obtained with these vaccines whereas local response at the mucosal sites where the virus primarily enters the organism and replicates remains very limited. The aim of this study was to develop a safe, non-invasive and antigen compatible system for mucosal delivery of the FMD antigen which induces both the systemic and local immunity. Gel formulations were prepared using different types of chitosan at different concentrations and were incorporated with the whole inactivated FMD virion. The immune responses in guinea pigs were determined following intranasal administration. Chitosan-based FMD vaccine formulations have been shown to induce FMD antigen-specific serum IgG and nasal IgA levels, the latter response being significantly stronger as compared to that obtained following subcutaneous administration of the FMD antigen in Freund's incomplete adjuvant. Our results suggest that intranasal immunization with inactivated FMD virion delivered in the presence of chitosan is very promising, inducing both systemic and local immune responses.