Department of Animal Biotechnology, LLR University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar-125004, Haryana
*Corresponding author E-mail: minakshi.abt@gmail.com
Online published on 27 July, 2017.
Bluetongue (BT) disease is caused by bluetongue virus (BTV) of Reoviridae family. BTV is transmitted by several species of biting midges (Culicoides sp.) to domestic and wild ruminants. BT is non-contagious but infectious disease. BTV isolate was isolated from Culicoides peregrinus vector from Tamil Nadu state. After appearance of 75% cytopathic effect in BHK-21cell culture, viral nucleic acid (dsRNA) was extracted. RNA-PAGE analysis showed the BTV specific characteristics migration pattern (3: 3: 3: 1) of viral nucleic acid. Furthermore, viral nucleic acid was subjected to cDNA synthesis for ns1 and vp2 gene based RT-PCR analysis. The ns1 gene RT-PCR, specific cytopathic effect and migration pattern in RNA-PAGE confirmed the sample as BTV. The vp2 gene serotype specific RT-PCR identified the isolate as BTV serotype 23. The study suggested that Culicoides peregrinus could be a potential vector which plays important role in BTV transmission in southern India.
Bluetongue virus 23, RT-PCR, Serotype, vp2 gene, Vector
