EPIZOOTIOLOGIC STUDY OF BLUETONGUE - VIROLOGIC AND SEROLOGIC RESULTS

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 42  (5) , 884-887
Abstract
Heparinized blood and serum samples were obtained from 1295 ruminants in herds or flocks with bluetongue virus (BTV) infection in 4 western states (USA). Submissions were from herds or flocks with clinical bluetongue (BT) and from animals on premises with no history of BT disease. Insects, including Culicoides variipennis, were collected in areas enzootic for BT disease. Viral isolations were in 10 day old embryonating chicken eggs that were then adapted to Vero (African green monkey kidney) cells for serotyping. Sera were tested for group-specific antibody to BTV by the micro-agar gel precipitin (AGP) test. Viral isolations were from cattle (81), sheep (122), goats (9), antelope (2) and C. variipennis (5). There were 7 isolates of serotype 10, 114 of serotype 11, 42 of serotype 13, and 56 of serotype 17. In herds or flocks from which BTV was isolated, 51% of cattle, 56% of sheep, 21% of goats and 52% of antelope had AGP antibodies. Virus was isolated from 43% of the cattle and 23% of the sheep that had no demonstrable evidence of AGP antibodies. Viral isolations were seasonal, occurring from Aug. until Dec. Approximately 30% of the herds or flocks from which virus was isolated had more than 1 serotype of virus causing infection.

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