Evidence for Transmission of Bluetongue Virus Serotype 26 through Direct Contact

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0096049
• Publication Date: 2014-05-06T00:47:56Z
• Authors: Carrie Batten; Karin Darpel; Mark Henstock; Petra Fay; Eva Veronesi; Simon Gubbins; Samantha Graves; Lorraine Frost; Christopher Oura
• Keywords: Culicoides; Ceratopogonidae; Blood meal

The aim of this study was to assess the mechanisms transmission bluetongue virus serotype 26 (BTV-26) in goats. A previous study, which investigated pathogenicity and infection kinetics BTV-26 goats, unexpectedly revealed that one control goat may have been infected through a direct contact route. To investigate more detail an experimental carried out three goats were with BTV-26, kept uninfected, but housed additional four indirect separated from by metal gates. This barrier allowed occasional face-to-face same airspace, feeding, watering, sampling environmental cleaning separately. experimentally did not show clinical signs BTV, however high levels viral RNA detected isolated their blood. At 21 dpi in, blood also seroconverted. remained uninfected throughout duration experiment. In order replication laboratory model species Culicoides biting midge, than 300 sonorensis fed spiked meal incubated for 7 days. dissemination individual C. inferred quantity indicated none insects processed at day possessed transmissible infections. shows is easily transmitted between strain does seem replicate midges using standard incubation conditions.