Serological and Molecular Evidence of Bovine Leukemia Virus in Sheep Populations in the South of Iran

Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) is a neoplastic lymphosarcoma affecting cattle worldwide. Sheep, as one of the multiple host species for BLV, can transmit the virus to various animals and potentially to humans. Recognizing a gap in research, particularly in southern Iran, where the prevalence of BLV in sheep populations has not been investigated, this study aimed to fill this gap. One hundred blood samples were collected from seven flocks of sheep in the Fars province, Shiraz, southern Iran. Our study specifically investigated the prevalence of BLV in sheep populations in southern Iran, using serological and molecular analyses. Anti-gp51 IgG antibodies and proviral DNA were detected using ELISA and nested PCR, respectively. In this study, 37% of the 100 sheep tested positive for BLV IgG antibodies from the Fars province in southern Iran. The gag BLV gene with a band length of 385 bp was detected in 3% (3/100) of the samples. In this study, we examined the evidence of BLV in sheep from southern Iran. Control measures are needed to reduce infection in definitive hosts.