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Bluetongue Information, Typing and Epidemiology
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The Bluetongue Virus (BTV) is a double stranded RNA virus of the Orbivirus genus in the Reoviridae family.
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The BTV RNA is packaged inside two protein layers (pictured on the left). A third layer is lost when the virus enters the host cell.
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There are at least 24 different serotypes of the bluetongue virus.
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The Bluetongue virus causes disease in sheep, cattle, and other ruminants.
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It does not affect humans.
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The clinical signs of the disease are usually restricted to domesticated breeds of sheep, other animals such as goats and cattle rarely show any symptoms.
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BTV relies on a vector or carrier to spread from host to host. The vector of bluetongue is a small biting midge called of the genus Culicoides.
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Seasonal variations in temperature and weather affect the spread of Culicoides and therefore also affect the spread of Bluetongue Virus.
See inside
About the CRL
Disease tracking and analysis tools.
Other Sites
World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).
Reoviridae.org for BTV and other double-stranded RNA viruses
New European rules on BTV vaccines
