Seroprevalence of enzootic bovine leukosis in Trakya district (Marmara region) in Turkey

In this study, 481 cattle belonging to 77 farms from nine localities in Tra kya district in the Marmara region of Turkey were blood sampled and serolog ically tested for enzootic bovine leukosis (EBL). Antibodies to bovine leuk osis virus (BLV) were detected in 51 cattle sera (11%) belonging to nine fa rms in five localities. Cattle tested were mostly female Holstein or Brown Swiss of ages ranging between 18 months and 10 years. Analysis of the relat ionships between age, breed or sex and seropositivity to EEL in seropositiv e herds indicated no significant associations (p>0.05). The relationship be tween seropositivity and haematological changes was also studied, and serop ositive cattle had higher lymphocyte percentage and lower neutrophil percen tage than seronegative cattle (p<0.001), (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.