Some observations on the clinical symptoms of bluetongue in sheep

The clinical symptoms of blue tongue diseases in 32 flocks of sheep were recorded. The clinical symptoms included pyrexia, hyperaemia of oral mucosa, odema of lips, mucopurulent nasal discharge, odema of face, ears and sub-maxillary region, excoriation of epithelium of the tongue, gums and buccal commissures, abortion, cyanosis of the tongue, wry neck and coronitis. Animals in the age group of 12–18 months were predominantly affected. Mortality and case fatality were higher in rural flocks than in organised farms. Improved management practices and good nursing of sick animals coupled with paliative treatment minimised the losses caused by the disease.