• 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 40  (11) , 1654-1656
Abstract
Beginning in 1973, all available laboratory and field strains of bluetongue virus (BTV) from the USA were serotyped. Of viral strains serotyped, 27 were collected from 1953 through 1972 and 173 were collected from 1973 through 1977. Although 20 BTV serotypes were found worldwide, only BTV serotypes 10, 11, 13 and 17 were found in the USA. Since 1973, serotypes 11 and 17 were the prevalent serotypes. Samples were collected over a 24 yr period in the USA and represent a wide geographic area and diverse host sources (sheep, cattle, wild ruminants and insect vectors). The collection was not a statistical sampling.