Abstract
Bluetongue virus (BTV) is an arbovirus transmitted to domestic and wild ruminants by certain species of Culicoides midges. The disease resulting from infection with BTV is economically important and can influence international trade and movement of livestock, the economics of livestock production, and animal welfare. Recent changes in the epidemiology of Culicoides-transmitted viruses, notably the emergence of exotic BTV genotypes in Europe, have demonstrated the devastating economic consequences of BTV epizootics and the complex nature of transmission across host-vector landscapes. Incursions of novel BTV serotypes into historically enzootic countries or regions, including the southeastern United States (US), Israel, Australia, and South America, have also occurred, suggesting diverse pathways for the transmission of these viruses. The abundance of BTV strains and multiple reassortant viruses circulating in Europe and the US in recent years demonstrates considerable genetic diversity of BTV strains and implies a history of reassortment events within the respective regions. While a great deal of emphasis is rightly placed on understanding the epidemiology and emergence of BTV beyond its natural ecosystem, the ecological contexts in which BTV maintains an enzootic cycle may also be of great significance. This review focuses on describing our current knowledge of ecological factors driving BTV transmission in North America. Information presented in this review can help inform future studies that may elucidate factors that are relevant to longstanding and emerging challenges associated with prevention of this disease.
Highlights
Arthropod-borne viruses constitute a significant group of emerging pathogens, many of which are increasing in global distribution as a result of climate change, urbanization, and changing of travel or trade [1,2,3]
During an outbreak of EHDV in Israel in 2006, losses caused by reduced milk production and increased mortality were estimated at ∼$2.5 million United States (US) dollars (USD), whereas the annual losses to the US livestock industry due to enzootic Bluetongue virus (BTV) infection were estimated at $144 million USD ∼15 years ago [14, 15]
The expansion of novel BTV serotypes into these regions demonstrates the wide distribution of competent Culicoides species and, with the impact of climate change, it can be anticipated that new BTV strains and serotypes will continue to be introduced on a regular basis [40, 69]
Summary
Christie Mayo 1*, Emily McDermott 2, Jennifer Kopanke 3, Mark Stenglein 1, Justin Lee 1, Candace Mathiason 1, Molly Carpenter 1, Kirsten Reed 1 and T. Bluetongue virus (BTV) is an arbovirus transmitted to domestic and wild ruminants by certain species of Culicoides midges. Recent changes in the epidemiology of Culicoides-transmitted viruses, notably the emergence of exotic BTV genotypes in Europe, have demonstrated the devastating economic consequences of BTV epizootics and the complex nature of transmission across host-vector landscapes. Incursions of novel BTV serotypes into historically enzootic countries or regions, including the southeastern United States (US), Israel, Australia, and South America, have occurred, suggesting diverse pathways for the transmission of these viruses. This review focuses on describing our current knowledge of ecological factors driving BTV transmission in North America. Information presented in this review can help inform future studies that may elucidate factors that are relevant to longstanding and emerging challenges associated with prevention of this disease
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