FIRST MOLECULAR DETECTION OF MAEDI-VISNA VIRUS IN AWASSI SHEEP OF MIDDLE IRAQ REGIONS

Abstract

Respiratory viral infections cause significant economic losses in sheep production. This preliminary molecular study aimed to detect the Maedi-Visna virus infection in Awassi sheep in three gover-norates in the middle region of Iraq. The presence of one or more of the specific four genes (gag, pol, env and LTR) were considered as positive result. A total of 210 blood samples of Awassi sheep were collected for the purpose of the project. The molecular prevalence of Maedi-Visna virus in sheep was 12.85% (27/210). As a result, Maedi-Visna virus was observed in sheep with chronic respiratory sys-tem disease with non-significant difference between governorates and between primers percentage (P>0.05). Sequencing studies strongly suggested that Maedi-Visna virus originated in Iraq. This is the first study describing Iraqi Maedi-Visna virus sequences with molecular characterisation of gag, pol, env and LTR genes, suggesting that Maedi-Visna virus originated in Iraq.