This, partly retrospective study, was designed to determine the seroprevalence of Schmallenberg virus (SBV), a new Orthobunyavirus first reported in Germany in late 2011, in domestic ruminants from the Middle Black Sea, West, and Southeast regions of Turkey. An indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to screen serum samples collected from slaughterhouse animals between 2006 and 2013. The overall seroprevalence was 335/1,362 (24.5 %) with 325/816 (39.8 %), 5/307 (1.6 %), 3/109 (2.8 %), and 2/130 (1.5 %) recorded in cattle, sheep, goats, and Anatolian water buffalo, respectively. This is the first study to demonstrate the presence of antibodies to SBV in Turkish ruminants; it indicates that cattle are more susceptible to infection than sheep, goats, or buffalo and that exposure of domestic ruminants to SBV in Turkey may have occurred up to 5 years prior to the first recorded outbreak of the disease in 2011.

Infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV) and viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV) are two of the major viral threats faced by the aquaculture industry in Turkey. The aim of our study was to investigate the pathogenicity of two Turkish viral strains isolated locally from the Bolu VHSV strain (Accession number: KM972678.1) and the HAH‐4 IPNV strain (Accession number: KM972675). The titres of infectious virus were determined by virus titration tests using monolayer cultures of EPC cells to determine the challenge dose. The challenge trial was conducted with 40 rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum)) for each virus and control group. The infective dose of each virus was applied intraperitoneally as 1 × 107 of the tissue culture infective dose per ml. At the end of the trial period (day 21), all fish were examined for clinical signs and post‐mortem changes. The average mortality rates for VHSV and IPNV were 36.6% and 33.3%, respectively. Necropsies performed on the deceased fish revealed the presence of IPNV only in fish that had been infected with IPNV, as determined using a real‐time PCR method targeting the VP3 gene region of the virus. Similarly, VHSV was detected only in the fish infected with VHSV using a real‐time PCR method targeting the gG gene region of the virus. In conclusion, the Bolu strain of VHSV and the HAH‐4 strain of IPNV each has moderate pathogenicity in rainbow trout.

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and distribution patterns of LSDV infections in the provinces of northern Turkey, and to detect the factors influencing the epidemiology of LSD virus infections (age, breed, season, climate, geography, population dynamic, animal movement), as well as to assess the diagnostic value of the sampled materials in the diagnosis of LSDV infections. Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is an economically important cattle disease. The disease is endemic in many African countries, but outbreaks have also been reported in Turkey and the Middle East. In this study, a total of 564 samples (skin, blood and lung) from different cattle breeds (Jersey, Holstein-Friesian, Anatolian Black, Simmental and Brown Swiss) (n=465) in the many herds suspected of lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) infection as clinically and macroscopic pathologic remarks, housed in the 7 different provinces of northern Turkey, were used for gel based conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR). LSDV nucleic acid was detected in 259 of 564 (45.92%) materials by PCR. According to the result of PCR, the LSDV infection was diagnosed in 54.62% (254/465) of the sampled animals. The diagnostic value of necropsy and clinical materials such as skin and lung were determined as more valuable diagnostic materials in the diagnosis of LSDV infection by PCR. Data showed that LSDV infection was widespread in the provinces of northern Turkey and that the prevalence of the infection in the region varies in accordance with factors such as geographical conditions (climate, season, location etc.) and the method of breeding. .

Background: Whether zoonotic or not, arboviral infections are continuing to be a major threat to human health as well as the livestock industry all around the world. This project presented the results of the identification study on five arboviruses, including West Nile virus (WNV), Bovine ephemeral fever virus, Akabane virus, Bluetongue virus, and Epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus, in mosquitos and midges from eight provinces of the Black Sea Region. Methods: During 2011 and 2012, 3193 mosquitoes were captured around natural streams, rivers, lakes, and ponds using dry-baited miniature light-traps. Identification studies were concluded by employing molecular methods. Results: According to the morphological identification, blood-sucking mosquitoes and biting-midges belonged to Aedes (44.69%), Anopheles (28.34%), Culex (22.14%) and Culicoides (4.83%) species. Overall, 146 pools were made up of captured mosquitos and midges. None of the five viruses were directly identified by mosquitoes. Conclusion: Mosquitoes and midges have got a crucial role in the transmission of arboviruses. The risk of occurrence for the investigated arboviruses will continue depending upon many factors including the presence of these viruses in Turkey and its neighboring countries, uncontrolled livestock movements, global warming and climate changes.

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) and Bovine herpes virus type-1 (BHV-1) are economically important pathogens leading to critical health problems for widespread ruminant populations worldwide. This study was conducted in order to update the seroprevalence of both viruses in non-vaccinated ruminant breeding enterprises in the Black Sea Region of Turkey. Blood samples (n=1.025) were collected from 192 small-scale farms and were screened using a virus neutralization test. Overall percentages of BVDV and BHV-1 were 19.90 % and 13.56 %, respectively. All goat and cattle enterprises were seropositive for BVDV. Single and dual virus infections rates were 24.87 %  and 5.26 % respectively. The Black Sea Region of Turkey has a great number of small-sized ruminant farms and the results confirmed that BVDV and BHV-1 viruses were still in circulation and a wide range of large and small ruminants were exposed to both viruses.