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Summary: Background: Previous studies have shown high levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and their risks in humans and domestic animals, especially in cats and dogs. However, studies regarding the levels of POPs in horses are limited. Objectives: To study the concentration of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and organophosphate pesticides (OPs) in hair samples collected from 52 sport horses in Turkey and to investigate the possible relationship among current exposure situation, age and gender of horses. Study design: Original article. Methods: Hair samples were collected from 52 sport horses which were divided into three groups according to age: Group I: < 5 years (n = 17), Group II: 5–10 years (n = 16) and Group III: >10 years (n = 19). In addition to age, the samples were also analysed by location and gender. Thirty environmental pollutants (2 OPs, 7 OCPs, 15 PCBs and 6 PAHs) were analysed using a sensitive GC‐MS method. Results: All samples contained a minimum of one pollutant, and 23 of the 30 measured pollutants were identified in at least one sample. Number of positive samples and concentrations of POPs were higher in Group 2 and Group 3 than Group I (p < 0.05). Females and males presented similar results. In terms of location, concentrations of almost all chemicals were higher in Sanliurfa than Ankara (p < 0.05). Main limitations: Feed, drinking water and the other related environmental samples were not analysed to evaluate the relationship between those sources and POPs levels in hair samples collected from sport horses. Conclusions: The concentration of POPs in the hair and other tissues of sports horses should be monitored periodically. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to investigate levels of the POPs in hair samples from sport horses in Turkey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

July 2004, a cow with clinical signs of ovine herpesvirus type-2 infection which is known as sheep associated malignant catarrhal fever (SA-MCF) was reported in Samsun Province in Turkey. Blood samples were collected from the suspected cow, 10 sheep housed with it, and from 150 healthy sheep and 29 healthy cattle randomly selected from different places in Samsun Province. Nested polymerase chain reaction (n-PCR) was used to detect ovine herpesvirus type-2 (OvHV-2) DNA in the suspected cow and competitive- ELISA (c-ELISA) kits were used to detect antibodies against OvHV-2. The suspected cow was found to be n-PCR positive and c-ELISA negative. The serological results were as follows: All 10 (100%) of sheep housed with the suspected cow and 18 of 29 (62%) of the randomly selected cattle were found seropositive. All 150 randomly selected healthy sheep were seronegative. The overall percentage of seropositivity was 14.7% (28/190). OvHV-2 DNA was detected in the peripheral blood leucocyte (PBL) samples of the cow and of the 10 sheep housed with the suspected cow.