The impact of bluetongue virus on reproduction

Bluetongue virus has been recognized as an important noncontagious, arthropodborne infectious viral disease of ruminants. 24 different serotypes of virus have been recognized worldwide. The most severe clinical disease has been associated with severe clinical disease in sheep and some free ranging wild ruminants. A number of reports have implicated the viruses as causing reproductive disorders in both males and females. The bluetongue related reproductive disorders include early embryonic deaths, abortions, malformed fetal calves or lambs, transient infertility in bulls and rams, and shedding of virus in semen. Recently, bluetongue virus contamination of modified live commercial canine vaccine was associated with abortion and acute death of pregnant bitches. The pathogenesis of these various aspects of reproductive failure are discussed herein.