Prevalence of enzootic bovine leukosis in the South Marmara Region and observations of some management practices

Abstract

Seven hundred seventeen cattle, over the age of six months in the South Marmara Region (Bursa, Bahkesir and Canakkale) were tested for the presence of Bovine leukemia Virus (BLV)-antibody with ELISA. Blood and milk samples were taken from 362 and 355 cattle, respectively. Totally, sixty-nine cattle (9.62%) were found to be carriers of antibodies against BLV-gp 51 antigen. The BLV infection rate was found to be 13.25% and 5.91% in the sera and milk samples tested, respectively. The infection rate were determined to be 14.19% in Bursa and 3.52% in Bahkesir, but BLV seropositive cattle were not found in Canakkale. It was observed that the highest infection rate was in the Karacabey provincial region of Bursa.