Bovine Herpesvirus-1 in Khouzestan province in Iran: seroprevalence and risk factors

Bovine herpesvirus type-1 (BoHV-1) is a DNA virus that is classified in the family Herpesviridae, subfamily Alphaherpesvirinae and genus Varicellovirus. This virus causes the respiratory disease, abortion, conjunctivitis, infectious pustular vulvovaginitis or balanoposthitis and other clinical forms of the complex diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the seroprevalence and risk factors of BoHV-1 infection in cattle in Khuzestan province in Iran. Blood samples were randomly collected from 534 cattle in 9 districts of Khuzestan province including Ahvaz, Baghmalek, Shooshtar, Dezful, Shadegan, Hendijan, Behbahan, Ramhormoz and Susangerd. The sera were examined by a commercial ELISA kite. The association between age, sex, breed, history of abortion, husbandry type and geographic location was analyzed by chi-square test and logistic regression. Seroprevalence rate of BoHV-1 infection was 48.69 % (95% CI: 44.49-52.89). Statistical analysis showed that age, geographic location and type of husbandry are significantly associated with infection (P<0.001). This study highlights the significant prevalence of BoHV-1 in the cattle in Khuzestan province, suggesting that appropriate prevention and control programs should be considered to reduce prevalence and economic losses by health authorities and animal owners.