Epidemiological survey of the Maedi Visna (MV) virus in Syrian Awassi sheep.

Awassi sheep sera from all the Syrian provinces were tested for antibodies against the Maedi Visna (MV) virus using the Agar Immuno-diffusion test. Eighty-seven animals out of 1,445 tested, showed positiveness (6%) to MV glycoprotein 135. The infection was detected in most provinces except in the Southern provinces of Damascus, Sweida and Konaitra. Use and quality of folds and rainfall were considered as factors influencing Maedi Visna distribution. The infection could be related to losses in sheep production and especially to the reduction in survivability (i.e. annual percentage of sheep not dying or culled).