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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Res / Re-emergence of bluetongue, African horse sickness, and othe...
Veterinary research2010; 41(6); 35; doi: 10.1051/vetres/2010007

Re-emergence of bluetongue, African horse sickness, and other orbivirus diseases.

Abstract: Arthropod-transmitted viruses (Arboviruses) are important causes of disease in humans and animals, and it is proposed that climate change will increase the distribution and severity of arboviral diseases. Orbiviruses are the cause of important and apparently emerging arboviral diseases of livestock, including bluetongue virus (BTV), African horse sickness virus (AHSV), equine encephalosis virus (EEV), and epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) that are all transmitted by haematophagous Culicoides insects. Recent changes in the global distribution and nature of BTV infection have been especially dramatic, with spread of multiple serotypes of the virus throughout extensive portions of Europe and invasion of the south-eastern USA with previously exotic virus serotypes. Although climate change has been incriminated in the emergence of BTV infection of ungulates, the precise role of anthropogenic factors and the like is less certain. Similarly, although there have been somewhat less dramatic recent alterations in the distribution of EHDV, AHSV, and EEV, it is not yet clear what the future holds in terms of these diseases, nor of other potentially important but poorly characterized Orbiviruses such as Peruvian horse sickness virus.
© INRA, EDP Sciences, 2010.
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Publication Date: 2010-01-27 PubMed ID: 20167199PubMed Central: PMC2826768DOI: 10.1051/vetres/2010007Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research paper examines the causes and effects of resurgence in diseases such as bluetongue, African horse sickness, and other orbivirus diseases, suggesting that climate change may play a significant role in this phenomenon. The focus is on arboviruses, viruses transmitted by arthropods, which have sparked a sudden and dramatic increase in disease in both humans and animals.

Role of Orbiviruses

  • Orbiviruses are a significant cause of arboviral diseases. Named after the arthropods that transmit them, arboviruses cause disease in both humans and animals.
  • Among these orbiviruses, there are four that cause diseases in livestock: BTV, AHSV, EEV, and EHDV. All of these diseases are transmitted by haematophagous Culicoides insects.

Global Distribution and Nature of BTV Infection

  • The study noted a significant shift in the global distribution and nature of BTV, observing that multiple serotypes of the virus spread substantially, particularly throughout Europe and in the south-eastern USA. Some of these serotypes were previously considered exotic in these areas.
  • Aside from the distribution shift, the paper also notes the dramatic nature of the BTV infection’s resurgence.

Implication of Climate Change

  • Climate change has been suggested to play a role in the resurgence of BTV infection in ungulates, however, the exact contribution of anthropogenic factors remains unclear.

Other Orbivirus Diseases

  • The study also notes changes, although less dramatic, in the distribution of EHDV, AHSV, and EEV. However, the future impact and behavior of these diseases is uncertain.
  • There are other potentially significant but poorly characterized orbiviruses, such as Peruvian horse sickness virus, the characteristics and potential impact of which remain vastly unexplored.

Cite This Article

APA
Maclachlan NJ, Guthrie AJ. (2010). Re-emergence of bluetongue, African horse sickness, and other orbivirus diseases. Vet Res, 41(6), 35. https://doi.org/10.1051/vetres/2010007

Publication

Veterinary research
ISSN: 0928-4249
NlmUniqueID: 9309551
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 41
Issue: 6
Pages: 35

Researcher Affiliations

Maclachlan, N James
  • Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA. njmaclachlan@ucdavis.edu
Guthrie, Alan J

    MeSH Terms

    • African Horse Sickness / epidemiology
    • Animals
    • Bluetongue / epidemiology
    • Communicable Diseases, Emerging / veterinary
    • Horses
    • Orbivirus
    • Sheep

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