Investigation of the Presence and Prevalence of Listeriosis in Clinical Samples in Van and its Region

Abstract

Listeriosis is an infection that causes abortion in humans and various animals worldwide. The causative agent is spread by livestock faeces, especially ruminants, and has a zoonotic character, transmitted by ingesting contaminated silage and feed. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the presence of Listeria spp. in 120 samples (79 abortion material, 41 brain material) of sheep. For this purpose, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method was performed using specific oligonucleotide pairs for Listeria spp. all of the abortion materials from Van province and its districts were found to be negative. However, a total of 2 (4.87%) samples, one each from the Erciş and Gevaş districts, from sheep with clinical nervous symptoms were found positive. As a result, it was determined that Listeria spp. was sporadic in Van province. It was concluded that this situation may be due to the low use of silage in ovine breeding in Van province. It was thought that periodical studies should be carried out to determine the course of the disease in the region.