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Assays for the Identification of Novel Antivirals against Bluetongue Virus
Published on: October 11, 2013
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Bluetongue outbreak in a sheep flock from Iran
Navid Jahanroshan1,2, Bahram Dalir-Naghadeh3, Samad Lotfollahzadeh4
1Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
Veterinary Medicine and Science
|September 30, 2023
Summary
This study documents the first clinical bluetongue virus (BTV) outbreak in sheep in Iran. The disease, transmitted by arthropods, affected 72% of a French Lacon sheep flock, causing significant morbidity and mortality.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Virology
- Epidemiology
- Sheep Diseases
Background:
- Bluetongue virus (BTV), an Orbivirus, causes significant economic losses in sheep globally.
- BTV is transmitted by arthropod vectors and is a major concern for livestock health.
Observation:
- A flock of 300 Lacon sheep imported from France in Qazvin, Iran, exhibited clinical signs in August 2022.
- Key clinical signs included submandibular edema, fever, inappetence, stomatitis, nasal discharge, and lameness.
- PCR testing confirmed BTV in affected sheep, despite a recent vaccination history.
Findings:
- The outbreak resulted in a morbidity rate of 72%, a mortality rate of 7%, and a case fatality rate of 9.7%.
- Clinical signs were consistent with bluetongue, with differential diagnoses including Foot-and-Mouth Disease and Peste des Petits Ruminants.
Implications:
- This report marks the first documented clinical occurrence of bluetongue in sheep in Iran.
- Findings highlight the need for enhanced surveillance and control strategies for BTV in endemic and newly affected regions.
- The study underscores the potential for bluetongue to emerge in vaccinated flocks, necessitating ongoing monitoring and potentially updated vaccination protocols.
