Search

Abstract: In November 2017, a 15‐day‐old calf located in France (Haute‐Savoie department) was found positive for bluetongue virus (BTV) RNA by RT‐PCR. Laboratory investigations allowed the isolation and identification of the serotype: BTV‐4. The analysis of the full viral genome showed that all the 10 genome segments were closely related to BTV‐4 strains involved in a large BT outbreak in the Balkan Peninsula, in Italy since 2014 and in Corsica since the end of October 2016. These results together with epidemiological data suggest that BTV‐4 has been introduced to mainland France from Corsica or Italy where BTV‐4 outbreaks have been reported in summer and autumn 2016. This is the first report of the introduction of BTV‐4 in mainland France. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 2000, French Corsica Island has been exposed to the emergence of three different BT virus ( BTV) serotypes: serotype 2 in 2000 and 2001, serotype 4 in 2003 and serotype 16 in 2004. Between 2005 and August 2013, no outbreaks have been reported in the French Island. At the beginning of September 2013, sheep located in the south of the island showed clinical signs suggestive of BTV infection. Laboratory analyses identified the virus as BTV serotype 1. Phylogenetic studies showed that the sequences of this strain are closely related to the BTV-1 strain that was circulating in the Mediterranean basin and in Sardinia in 2012. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]