title: Seroepidemiology of bluetongue disease in small ruminants of north-east of Iran.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the prevalence and distribution of bluetongue virus antibody in sheep and goats in 25 townships of Khorasan Razavi. Bluetongue is an infectious, non-contagious, arthropod born viral disease of ruminants and has been reported from most of the tropical and subtropical regions of the world.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total number of 1 034 serum samples from sheep and goats were collected and transmitted to Serological Laboratory of Veterinary Council of Khorasan Razavi. Serums were screened for the presence of group-specific bluetongue virus antibody using competitive Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay (c-ELISA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The seropositivity of sheep and goats for bluetongue was found to be 89.2%. The highest prevalence rate was seen in Taybad, Khalil-abad and Torbat-jam (100%) and the least prevalence rate was seen in Jovein (55%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results showed that the majority of animals in the north-east of Iran are infected with bluetongue virus. High correlation between abortion history and seroposivity emphasize the economical importance of bluetongue virus in the sheep herds of the region.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.
authors.forename: Vahid
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Najarnezhad
authors.forename: Mahin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rajae
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001819:Bluetongue / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D001820:Bluetongue virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D015511:Goat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D006041:Goats; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral
keywords: Bluetongue; Goat; Khorasan Razavi; Seroepidemiology; Sheep