ANTIBODIES TO BLUETONGUE VIRUSES IN ANIMALS IMPORTED INTO UNITED-STATES ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 46  (2) , 154-159
Abstract
Serum samples (345) from 30 zoological animal species which had beem imported into the USA were examined retrospectively for the presence of antibody to bluetongue viruses. Of these animals 98 (28.4%) were positive for antibody to bluetongue group antigen by the bluetongue agar gel immunodiffusion test. Bluetongue antibodies, most of which were against serotypes exotic to the USA, were detected in 13 animal species from Africa not previously reported to be infected by bluetongue virus. The lack of virus neutralizing antibody to any of the 20 known bluetongue virus types in 4 of 28 positive sera studied may indicate the existence of new bluetongue virus serotypes, cross reactions without other orbiviruses or a more rapid decline of neutralizing than precipitating antibody. The possibility of recrudescence of bluetongue virus infection from some inapparently infected zoological animals and existence of a known bluetongue vector (Culicoides variipennis) in the USA would suggest that further assessment of bluetongue in zoological animals be made.