ICAR, All Indian Network Programme on Bluetongue (BT) Disease, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, MAFSU, Parbhani, India.
Abstracts of the papers presented at the International Conference of Indian Virological Society on “Emerging and Re-emerging viral Diseases of the Tropics and Subtropics” at Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India, December 11–14, 2007.
Bluetongue (BT) is a viral disease of sheep and occasionally in cattle caused by Bluetongue virus (BTV) belonging to genus Orbivirus of family Reoviridae. The Bluetongue virus has 24 serotypes. The culicoides midges transmit the disease. The disease is characterized by fever, catarrhal stomatitis, rhinitis, enteritis and lameness due to coronitis and myositis. Bluetongue is a disease of economic importance. Adults either lose their fleece or develop a break in staple. Pregnant ewes abort. Bluetongue is an important disease from international trade point of view. The disease is placed on List A of veterinary diseases by Office International Des Epizooties (OIE). There are restrictions on international movement of cattle and sheep and their products from bluetongue endemic countries. These restrictions do not recognize regional and seasonal freedom from virus activity.
The Maharashtra State of India has a sheep population of around 33.67 million. A high density of sheep population is seen in the districts of Ahmadnagar, Pune, Satara, Sangali, Sholapur, Nashik and Kolhapur. The Aurangabad and Buldhana districts have moderate density of sheep population. Heavy economic losses to the shepherds occur due to bluetongue epidemics. The state exports livestock and livestock products of millions of rupees every year.The state is a bluetongue endemic state requiring bluetongue surveillance for better trade opportunities.
