This study aims to report pestivirus infection determined in the sheep of Akkaraman race in Elazığ region and to emphasize the economical significance of the infection.

The study material included 8 different flocks having abortion incidents and consisting of total 4272 Akkaraman breed sheep in Elazığ province between January and February 2012. For analyzing bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) antibodies, the blood and tissue samples obtained from 20 fetus and a total of 219 aborted ewes which corresponded to almost %5 of the sheep from the aborted flocks were sent to Elazığ Veterinary Control Institution. The presence of BVDV antibodies in sheep having abortion were examined using BVDV total antibodies ELISA, and the presence of BVDV antibodies in aborted fetuses were examined using BVDV antigen ELISA kits. BVDV antibodies was detected in 65.75% (144/219) of the blood samples and BVDV antigen was detected in 55% (11/20) of the fetus tissue samples. 4.9% (210/4272) of the sheep included in the study had abortion, 4.5% (204/4272) were determined to become barren, 5.0% (215/4272) to have growth retardation, 0.4% (19/4272) to have anomaly and 3.4% (137/4272) to die.

In conclusion, determining the presence of pestivirus infection in aborted sheep, this study suggests to consider the effect of this infection in abortion incidents in sheep which cause significant economic damages and to take protective measures.