Disease Is A Severe Haemorrhagic Disease Affecting Ruminants

Bluetongue disease is a severe haemorrhagic disease affecting ruminants, mainly sheep, which is caused by the Bluetongue virus (BTV). The Bluetongue virus serotype 8 (BTV-8) strain has the ability to transmit transplacentally in pregnant ruminants, a characteristic rarely reported in other serotypes. Prior to the emergence of BTV-8 in Europe in 2006, other serotypes of BTV have been present in Europe for more than ten years but there has been no evidence of transplacental transmission in these strains. The purpose of the journal article is to verify whether transplacental transmission is exclusive to BTV-8. The incidence and pathological effect of transplacental transmission of BTV-8 was compared to BTV-1. At approximately 70-75 days gestation, nine pregnant ewes were infected with BTV-8, another nine pregnant ewes were inouculated with BTV-1, and two other ewes acted as the untreated control. Field strains were used for preparation of both BTV strains. The strains were isolated on embryonated chicken eggs (ECE) before being passed twice on mammalian cells. The presence of BTV in the bloodstream was monitored by taking blood samples. 29 days after the inoculation, all the ewes were euthanized. Then, the ewes and foetuses were examined for signs of pathological changes and the presence of BTV. The results showed that BTV-8 was present in 12 foetuses (43%) from 5 ewes (56%). On the other hand, BTV-1 was found in 14 foetuses (82%) from 6 ewes (67%). Most of the pathological