Seroepidemiology of bovine herpesvirus-1 in goats in south-western Iran.

Background: Widely regarded as one of the chief causes of diseases in cattle population, bovine herpesvirus-1 (BoHV-1) has the potential to infect sheep and goat, making them potential reservoirs or hosts for this virus. Thus, preventive measures against BoHV-1 in cattle should not overlook the ability of this virus to infect other animals.

Aims: Therefore, the focal point of this study was to ascertain the seroprevalence of BoHV-1 in 300 healthy goats, the relationship between host and the environmental determinants of infection, and the contributing role of goats in the epidemiology of the BoHV-1.

The role of sheep in the epidemiology of Bovine alphaherpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1).

Bovine alphaherpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1) as a cusative agent for some diseases in cattle infects sheep and goat; and it is believed that these animals may be reservoir host for this virus. Thus, BoHV-1 infection in sheep and goat should be considerd when there is a program for control and eradication of this virus in cattle. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of BoHV-1 in sheep, relationship between host and environmental factors with infection, and the role of sheep in the epidemiology of the BoHV-1.

Development of a new method based on unmodified gold nanoparticles and peptide nucleic acids for detecting bovine viral diarrhea virus-RNA.

A simple colorimetric assay is presented for detecting bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV)-RNA based on aggregation of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in the presence of charge-neutral peptide nucleic acids (PNA). Free charge-neutral PNA oligomers tended to be adsorbed onto AuNPs and act as a coagulant, whereas hybridizing complementary RNA with PNA disrupted PNA-induced AuNP aggregation, and the NPs remained stable. However, non-complementary RNA did not have this effect, and PNA induced aggregation of the AuNPs that resulted in a color change of the reaction from red to blue.

Seroprevalence of Bluetongue in sheep in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province, Iran.

Bluetongue (BT) is a viral disease of ruminants transmitted by Culicoides biting midges and has the ability to spread rapidly over large distances. The disease occurs almost worldwide between latitudes approximately 35˚ S and 50˚ N. Among the numerous diseases of ruminants, BT has gained considerable importance in recent years as one of the best examples of the effects of climate change on disease spread.