Epidemiology of a Bluetongue outbreak in a sheep flock in Brazil.

Abstract

In January 2013, an outbreak of Bluetongue (BT) a ecting a Lacaune sheep ock occurred in Vassouras, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. From March to August 2013, blood samples collection and clinical examination were performed monthly, in order to monitor the epidemiological pro le of Bluetongue virus (BTV) circulation and clinical disease in the ock. Agar gel immunodi usion (AGID) and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) targeting BTV segment 10 were used as diagnostic assays. Additionally, insect trapping was conducted in the farm from May to July 2013. The ock serological prevalence to BTV was 80% since the rst month of monitoring, with a variation in the serological rate depending on the sheep age categories. The number of susceptible lambs increased with time, probably due to the decrease of passive immunity. Viral RNA was detected in blood samples, demonstrating viral circulation, prolonged viraemia, and potential source for virus transmission in the region, even in a dry and cool season. The presence of Culicoides pusillus and Culicoides insignis was con rmed in the farm. The emergence of this outbreak in a Brazilian endemic area for BTV emphasises an urgent need of animal surveillance and BTV epidemiological studies.