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Title: An outbreak of Bluetongue Virus serotype 17 in sheep ranches of Wyoming.

Author
item Miller, Myrna
item BROWN, JEREMY - UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING
item Mecham, James
item Reeves, Will

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/4/2008
Publication Date: 10/1/2008
Citation: Miller, M.M., Brown, J., Mecham, J.O., Reeves, W.K. 2008. An outbreak of Bluetongue Virus serotype 17 in sheep ranches of Wyoming.. Meeting Abstract.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Technical Abstract: In 2007 the Big Horn Basin of Wyoming experienced an epizootic of bluetongue virus serotype 17 that resulted in large-scale losses in some sheep herds. Serology, virus isolation, and reverse transcriptase-PCR were used to determine infection rate, virus presence, and susceptibility to infection in the following year. Blood and serum samples were collected 3-5 months post outbreak from affected and control flocks and were drawn from replacement lambs as the sentinel population, and from mature rams and ewes. Lamb seroprevalance was greater than or equal that of the mature sheep indicating this was likely a naïve population, and seroprevalance closely reflected the morbidity indicating there were very few subclinical infections. Elevation of summer pasture significantly affected infection rate and timing of infections, and gender and local conditions appear to be risk factors of host exposure to vectors.