title: Serological investigation for West Nile virus, Anaplasma ovis and Leishmania infantum in Greek cattle.
abstract: This study investigates the seroprevalence of Greek adult cattle against West Nile virus, Anaplasma ovis and Lehismania infantum. In total, 156 serum samples were examined, drawn from cattle between 2-4 years old. All the examined cattle originated from slaughterhouses of 4 prefectures in Northern Greece (Thessaloniki, Pella, Chalkidiki, Kilkis), in 2 of which (Thessaloniki, Pella) human cases of West Nile virus had been recorded some months before. Thirty out of the 156 (18.6%) samples have tested positive for West Nile virus and fifty-five (35.9%) samples for Anaplasma ovis. All the examined samples tested negative for Leishmania infantum. The prefectures with positive samples against West Nile virus also showed human cases of West Nile virus infections. This should raise questions whether cattle could become markers for West Nile virus activity in high risk areas.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Farm Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, St. Voutyra 11, 546 27 Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Nektarios
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Giadinis
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Katsoulos
authors.forename: Dimosthenis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chochlakis
authors.forename: Yannis
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tselentis
authors.forename: Pantelis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ntais
authors.forename: Shawkat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lafi
authors.forename: Harilaos
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Karatzias
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Psaroulaki
mesh_terms: D042323:Anaplasma ovis / Q000276:immunology*; D000712:Anaplasmosis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D018314:Leishmania infantum / Q000276:immunology*; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D014902:West Nile virus / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000914:Antibodies, Viral