Introduction

Classification

Taxonomy

• Family: reoviridae.
• Sub-family: sedoreoviridae.
• Genus: orbivirus.
• Species: bluetongue virus (BTV).

Active Forms

Clinical Effects

Epidemiology

Habitat

• BTV is only found within the habitats of competent vectors which comprises all continents except Antarctica.  

Pathological effects

• The incubation period is usually around 5-10 days.
• Viraemia in sub-clinically infected cattle occurs around 4 days post infection.
• BTV causes damage to the mucous membranes of the mouth and nose, and the coronary band of the foot. Typical clinical signs include high rectal temperatures, salivation, lacrimation, swollen teats and ocular and nasal discharge. A swollen tongue protruding from the mouth is characteristic of BTV infection.

Control

Control via animal

• Animal movement control.
• Quarantine.
• Serological surveys.

Control via environment

• Vector control.

Vaccination

• Commercial live attenuated and killed vaccines are available.

Diagnosis

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.

Organisation(s)

• APHA: www.gov.uk.
• OIE: www.oie.int.