¹Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafkas University, Department of Pathology, TR-36100 Kars - TÜRKİYE
²Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafkas University, Department of Virology, TR-36100 Kars - TÜRKİYE
³Institute Health Sciences, Kafkas University, TR-36100 Kars - TÜRKİYE DOI : 10.9775/kvfd.2023.29448 This study aimed to assess the role of free radicals in the pathogenesis and progression of sheeppox with the immunohistochemical investigation of MDA and 8-OhdG expressions. The study material comprised of 24 lamb carcasses (suspected of being infected with sheeppox), which were referred to the Pathology Department for routine diagnosis, and 6 healthy lambs used for control purposes. Commercial MDA and 8-OHdG were used for labeling with the avidin-biotin-Peroxidase complex technique by the manufacturer"s instructions. By using PCR the correct-sized amplicon was obtained from eight of the samples. Characteristic pock nodules were detected in the skin, lung, and liver tissues. In histopathological examinations, sheeppox cells and Guarneri bodies, which are quite typical for the diagnosis of the disease, were found in the internal organs. All of the sheeppox-infected cases yielded positive results for MDA and 8-OHdG immunostainings. When compared to the control group, the sheeppoxinfected group displayed statistically higher levels of MDA and 8-OHdG expressions. In conclusion, increased MDA and 8-OHdG expressions in the visceral organs of lambs naturally infected with the sheeppox virus demonstrated that sheeppox is associated with the disruption of the antioxidant/oxidant balance and the occurrence of significant oxidative stress-induced damage to macromolecules such as lipids and the DNA. The positive correlation detected between the severity of the disease and the expression of these biomarkers showed that free radicals are actively involved in the development of pox lesions. Keywords : Free radicals, Immunohistochemistry, Lipid peroxidation, Oxidative stress, Sheeppox virus