Detection and molecular characterization of the BEF virus in western Türkiye

Bovine ephemeral fever (BEF) is characterized by high fever, nasal and eye discharge, excessive salivation, muscle weakness, yield losses and or with high morbidity and low mortality. The first epidemic of BEFV in Turkey occurred in 1985 since then epidemics were reported every 2-4 years in the south and southeastern regions of Turkey. Since the first detection of the virus in Turkey, the BEF virus was reported from other parts of the country except the Aegean Region. In November 2020, the possible outbreaks of BEF were reported from two different locations of the Aegean Region in Turkey. In this study, it was aimed to determine the molecular characterization and possible origin of the virus that caused the epidemic in the Aegean Region. For this purpose, blood samples collected from clinically infected animals were tested by RT-qPCR, and complete G gene sequences were carried out of the positive sample using the primers designed in this study. According to the phylogenetic analysis, virus is located in the Middle East lineage. Based on field observations and the data obtained in the study, it was thought that the spread of the virus to the Aegean Region was caused by animal movements from other regions.