Blue Tongue

Question 1

what kind of virus is blue tongue?

Answer 1

an Orbivirus, double stranded RNA virus, it rapidly reassorts and changes genetically

Question 2

bluetongue is transmitted by

Answer 2

culicoides spp midges: they feed on infected sheep and become infectrious a week later.

also transmitted via semen

Question 3

blue tongue is feared by international trade and it can mimic what other disease?

Answer 3

foot and mouth disease

Question 4

the clinical signs of bluetongue vary greatly with

Answer 4

breed and serotype

Question 5

list some clinical signs of bluetongue

Answer 5

fever, vasculitis=edema, oral lesions, mucopurulent nasal discharge, pulmonary edema=dyspnea, hemorrhage & necrosis in muscles causing lameness and heart disease, coronitis (sore feet that can slough off), abortion

Question 6

list other ddx for blue tongue

Answer 6

FMD, contagious ecythema (orf), peste de ruminants, sheep pox, epizootic hemorrhagic disease of deere

Question 7

what time of year does this disease appear?

Answer 7

summer and fall

Question 8

how can you diagnose blue tongue?

Answer 8

ELISA, AGID, PCR

post mortem: subendocardial hemorrhage at the base of the pumonary artery, widespread vasculitis and peteciae, oral lesions, ear and lip lesions, enlarged LNs and spleen

Question 9

how to prevent blue tongue?

Answer 9

control the vector

vaccinate

quarantine and restrict movement

dont give pregnant ewes the vaccine