Susceptibility of Culicoides variipennis sonorensis to infection by polymerase chain reaction-detectable bluetongue virus in cattle blood

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 1996 May;54(5):481-5. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.1996.54.481.

Abstract

Cattle bloods containing only polymerase chain reaction (PCR)--detectable bluetongue-10 viral nucleic acid, but as determined by virus isolation techniques, not bluetongue-10 virus, were incapable of infecting intrathoracically inoculated Culicoides variipennis sonorensis. These insects also failed to transmit bluetongue-10 virus when fed on sheep. Cattle whose blood contain only PCR-detectable bluetongue viral nucleic acid, but no infectious virus, are unlikely to play a role in the epidemiology of bluetongue. The biological significance of PCR-based detection assays and their effect on animal health regulations on the international trade of livestock and livestock germplasm is discussed. Bluetongue virus infection provides a very useful model with which to study arthropod-transmitted RNA virus infections of humans and other animals.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bluetongue / blood
  • Bluetongue / transmission
  • Bluetongue / virology*
  • Bluetongue virus*
  • Cattle
  • Ceratopogonidae / virology*
  • Disease Susceptibility
  • Eating
  • Female
  • Insect Vectors / virology*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Sheep
  • Survival Rate