bovis - Articles
Bluetongue virus
Synonym(s): BTV
Introduction
Classification
Taxonomy
- Family: reoviridae.
- Sub-family: sedoreoviridae.
- Genus: orbivirus.
- Species: bluetongue virus (BTV).
Distribution
- Bluetongue Bluetongue: the disease distribution is restricted to the habitat of Culicoides midges as these are the insect vector responsible for transmission of disease.
- Bluetongue is endemic in many tropical, sub-tropical and temperate regions.
- Historically Europe had only experienced sporadic outbreaks of Bluetongue involving a single serotype. Since 1998 BTV has spread northwards into the Mediterranean Basin from where in 2006 for the first time Bluetongue outbreaks were observed in Europe.
- In 2023/2024 there have been a number of cases of bluetongue in the UK. Temporary exclusion zones were enforced in Kent and Norfolk and monitoring continues.
- At present there are 29 serotypes of BTV.
- BTV-8 has caused significant outbreaks in Northern Europe since 2006.
Significance
Bluetongue is am OIE listed disease and is notifiable to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).- Bluetongue is caused by bluetongue virus (BTV) and is an infectious, non-contagious disease of ruminants and camelids.
- The severity of disease is influenced by the serotype.
- Bluetongue is of greatest significance in sheep and deer as clinical signs in cattle are generally milder. However, cattle are the main mammalian reservoir. Morbidity in sheep can be as high as 100% with mortality between 30-70%, whereas mortality in cattle is below 1%.
- BTV can also infect goats and other wild ruminants.
- Bluetongue has a significant economic impact, mainly due to the disease effect on animals (morbidity, mortality, reproductive failure, reduction in milk yields and weight gain).
- Bluetongue has major impacts for trade due to outbreaks causing disruptions in the international trade of animals and animal products.
Active Forms
Subscribe To View
This article is available to subscribers.
Try a free trial today or contact us for more information.
Resting Forms
Subscribe To View
This article is available to subscribers.
Try a free trial today or contact us for more information.
Clinical Effects
Subscribe To View
This article is available to subscribers.
Try a free trial today or contact us for more information.
Diagnosis
Subscribe To View
This article is available to subscribers.
Try a free trial today or contact us for more information.
Further Reading
Publications
Refereed Papers
- Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
- Dórea F C, Elbers A R, Hendrikx P, Enoe C, Kirkeby C, Hoinville L & Lindberg A (2016) Vector-borne disease surveillance in livestock populations: A critical review of literature recommendations and implemented surveillance (BTV-8) in five European countries. Prev Vet Med 125, 1-9 PubMed.
- Feenstra F & van Rijn P A (2017) Current and next-generation bluetongue vaccines: Requirements, strategies, and prospects for different field situations. Crit Rev Microbiol 43 (2), 142-155 PubMed.
- van der Sluijs M T, de Smit A J & Moormann R J (2016) Vector independent transmission of the vector-borne bluetongue virus. Crit Rev Microbiol 42 (1), 57-64 PubMed.
- Medlock J M & Leach S A (2015) Effect of climate change on vector-borne disease risk in the UK. Lancet Infect Dis 15 (6), 721-30 PubMed.
- Niedbalski W (2015) Bluetongue in Europe and the role of wildlife in the epidemiology of disease. Pol J Vet Sci 18 (2), 455-61 PubMed.
- van Vuuren M & Penzhorn B L (2015) Geographic range of vector-borne infections and their vectors: the role of African wildlife. Rev Sci Tech 34 (1), 139-49 PubMed.
- Rushton J & Lyons N (2015) Economic impact of Bluetongue: a review of the effects on production. Vet Ital 51 (4), 401-6 PubMed.
- Ruiz-Fons F, Sánchez-Matamoros A, Gortázar C & Sánchez-Vizcaíno J M (2014) The role of wildlife in bluetongue virus maintenance in Europe: lessons learned after the natural infection in Spain.Virus Res 182, 50-8 PubMed.
- Maclachlan N J & Mayo C E (2013) Potential strategies for control of bluetongue, a globally emerging, Culicoides-transmitted viral disease of ruminant livestock and wildlife. Antiviral Res 99 (2), 79-90 PubMed.
Other sources of information
- Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (2024) Bluetongue virus risk set out for the year ahead. Website www.gov.uk.
- Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (2024) Bluetongue virus – latest situation: TCZs to be lifted. Website www.gov.uk.
- Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (2024) Bluetongue: how to spot it and report it Website www.gov.uk.
- Boehringer Ingelheim (2024) BULVATO 3™. Press release. Website: www.boehringer-ingelheim.com.
Organisation(s)
- APHA: www.gov.uk.
- Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (2024) Bluetongue: how to spot it and report it Website www.gov.uk.
- OIE: www.oie.int.