Bluetongue virus

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| image = Bluetongue virus.gif

| image_alt = Electron micrograph of "Bluetongue virus", scale bar = 50 nm

| image_caption = Electron micrograph of Bluetongue virus, scale bar = 50 nm

| parent = Orbivirus

| species = Orbivirus caerulinguae

| virus = Bluetongue virus

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Bluetongue virus (BTV) is a dsRNA virus of the genus Orbivirus. The virus causes Bluetongue disease.[https://web.archive.org/web/20140427202750/http://web.oie.int/eng/maladies/fiches/a_A090.htm World Organization for Animal Health :: Bluetongue][https://talk.ictvonline.org/files/master-species-lists/m/msl/8266 ICTV Master Species List 2018b v1] MSL #34, Feb. 2019ICTV: [https://talk.ictvonline.org/taxonomy/p/taxonomy-history?taxnode_id=201854879 Bluetongue virus], EC 51, Berlin, Germany, July 2019; Email ratification March 2020 (MSL #35) BTV is relatively fragile and its infectivity is lost in slightly acidic environments.

The recently spreading BTV-3 variant (BTV-3/NET2023) has raised concerns due to its fast spread in Europe, and the introduction of this variant could pose new challenges for disease control.{{Cite web |title=Bluetongue cases spread across Europe |url=https://www.britishagriculturebureau.co.uk/updates-and-information/bluetongue-cases-spread-across-europe/ |access-date=2024-09-27 |website=www.britishagriculturebureau.co.uk |language=en-gb}} In response to this, several countries have implemented vaccination campaigns, but the challenge lies in matching vaccines to the circulating strain. The BTV-3 variant’s genetic stability has been confirmed through sequencing, and vaccines currently in use are expected to be effective against it.{{Cite web |last=Wijbenga |first=Jacqueline |date=2024-07-23 |title=Genetic analysis reveals: Bluetongue virus 2024 identical to BTV-3/NET2023 |url=https://www.wur.nl/en/research-results/research-institutes/bioveterinary-research/show-bvr/genetic-analysis-reveals-bluetongue-virus-2024-identical-to-btv-3net2023.htm |access-date=2024-09-27 |website=WUR |language=en-us}}{{Cite web |last=McCullough |first=Chris |date=2024-08-22 |title=Huge concern across Europe as cases of bluetongue virus escalates |url=https://www.thefencepost.com/news/huge-concern-across-europe-as-cases-of-bluetongue-virus-escalates/ |access-date=2024-09-27 |website=www.thefencepost.com |language=en-US}}