Seroprevalance of Bluetongue Infection in Cattle in Rize Region

This study was conducted to serologically detect the presence and prevalence of bluetongue disease (BT) in cattle raised in the Rize province and its vicinity. The study was carried out in locality characterized by extensive stockbreeding; central Rize, Çayeli, Ardeşen, Pazar and Fındıklı, between September and December in 2013. A total of randomly selected 400 cattle of different breed and gender, aged 1-7 years. Jugular blood samples were collected from each animal. Serum samples were transferred into vials and inactivated at 56oC for 30 minutes soon after harvest and stored at -20oC. All samples were tested using a commercial ELISA kit for the presence of anti-bluetongue virus (BTV) antibodies. The results obtained were statistically analyzed using the SPSS 20.0 software package and by the chi-square (χ2) test. The results demonstrated that the samples from 100 of cattle (25%) were positive for anti-bluetongue virus antibodies. Of the localities, the central Rize had the highest seropositivity rate (59.09%) followed by Çayeli (21.21%), Ardeşen (17.14%), and Pazar (11.94%) districts while all animals from Fındıklı were seronegative for BTV. The seropositivity rates differed significantly among the localities (P 0.001). In conclusion, this is the first report suggested presence of BTV in Rize where 25% of cattle raised had anti BTV antibodies indicating infection caused by BTV.