Type-specific seroprevalence of bluetongue in India during 2018 and 2019

Bluetongue (BT) is a major disease of sheep and goats and is endemic to India. It is known to cause significant economic losses to the sheep industry. The current study aimed to determine the type-specific seroprevalence of BT in sheep population of India during 2018-2019.

Blood samples (n=405) were collected from 6 months to 1 year old sheep from six districts (Nalgonda, Karimnagar, Khammam, Mahabubnagar, Warangal, and Ranga Reddy) of Telangana state, India. Group- and type-specific seroprevalence (against BT virus [BTV] serotypes BTV-1, 2, 4, 5, 9, 10, 12, 16, 21, 23, and 24) was studied by competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and serum neutralization test, respectively.

Results showed an overall seroprevalence of 14.81% (n=60) with the highest seroprevalence of 50% in Khammam district. Seroprevalence of BTV-1, 2, 4, 5, 9, 10, 12, 16, 21, 23, and 24 was noted as 16.66%, 11.66%, 31.66%, 11.66%, 05%, 6.66%, 16.66%, 8.33%, 13.33%, 6.66%, and 16.66%, respectively. The majority of the sera neutralized more than 1 serotype, indicating superinfection or circulation of multiple serotypes in the sampled flocks. This mixed seroprevalence was observed in 43.33% of the sera with number of BTV serotype-specific antibodies ranging from two to eight in individual animals.

Regular monitoring of circulating serotypes, especially in young herds, elucidates pattern of dominating serotypes in a particular area during a season. This knowledge can be applied to design appropriate vaccination strategies by including particular serotypes of virus as part of a multivalent vaccine for a particular period, in a particular area.