Investigation of seroprevalence of small ruminant lentivirus infections in Erzurum province of Türkiye and determination of individual and environmental variables

Small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLVs) are chronic, incurable, and vaccine-free viral diseases that cause respiratory problems and nervous disorders and yield losses in sheep and goats. Caprine arthritis encephalitis virus in goats and maedi-visna virus in sheep have been named as SRLVs. This study aimed to determine the epidemiological status of SRLV infection in Erzurum province and to evaluate the risk factors of the disease based on breed, age, and sex. For this purpose, 204 animals including 184 sheep (Akkaraman, Morkaraman, and Hemşin breeds) and 20 goats (Anatolian Black goats) from 8 districts of Erzurum province (Aşkale, Hınıs, Horasan, Karaçoban, Palandöken, Pasinler, Pazaryolu, and Tekman) were included in the sample. Commercial antibody-ELISA kit was used to determine the seroprevalence of SRLV and 15.12% seropositivity was detected. In terms of SRLV, 14.67% of females and 20% of males were positive. In terms of breed, 20%, 13.76%, 0%, and 15% seropositivity was determined in Akkaraman, Morkaraman and Hemşin breed sheep and Anatolian Black goats, respectively. Although there was no statistically significant difference in terms of breed groups and sex, the detection rates in the districts were significant. In conclusion, the prevalence of SRLV infection was investigated in 8 locations of Erzurum province, which is one of the important centers of animal breeding and where small ruminant breeding is at a high level, and significant findings were obtained at the district level. With this study, updated data on seroprevalence of SRLV in the region were obtained and a broader perspective was tried to be provided by comparing with other SRLV studies in Türkiye and the world. These findings are important in terms of evaluating the prevalence and transmission risks of SRLV infections in the region and will shed light on future control and prevention strategies.