Rassegna Stampa

Bluetongue has been detected in a 3.5-year-old dog. The animal lived on a Dutch dairy farm with both cattle and sheep. Research by Wageningen Bioveterinary Research (WBVR, part of Wageningen University & Research) showed that the animal was infected with bluetongue virus type BTV-3/NET2023, the same virus currently found in sheep and cattle in the Netherlands.

The dog was seriously ill and showed shortness of breath, pulmonary oedema, severe emaciation and lethargy, among other symptoms. Based on the symptoms, the veterinarian reported a suspicion of bluetongue to the NVWA. Samples taken from the sick dog were examined by WBVR for the presence of bluetongue virus. “The PCR-test detected BTV. Partial sequencing confirmed BTV-3/NET2023 in the samples,” says WBVR researcher Melle Holwerda. In addition, the sample was tested for Brucella spp. This test was negative.