Reemergence of Bluetongue Virus Serotype 8 in Germany
Author Information
Author(s): Hoffmann Bernd, Saßerath Michael, Thalheim Sabine, Bunzenthal Claudia, Strebelow Günter, Beer Martin
Primary Institution: Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
Hypothesis
How did Bluetongue Virus Serotype 8 reemerge in Germany in 2007 and 2008?
Conclusion
Bluetongue Virus Serotype 8 reemerged in Germany earlier than expected, indicating efficient overwintering and low-level continuous infections.
Supporting Evidence
- BTV-8 was first detected in Germany in May 2007 and confirmed by multiple testing methods.
- Over 21,000 new cases of BTV-8 were reported in Germany in 2007.
- Sentinel animals were effective in detecting the reemergence of BTV-8.
Takeaway
Scientists found that a virus affecting cattle came back in Germany after being gone for a while, and it might still be around even in winter.
Methodology
Sentinel animal program tested 150 BTV-naive cattle monthly across Germany, using ELISA and real-time PCR for diagnostics.
Potential Biases
Potential mix-up of samples could lead to misleading interpretations.
Limitations
The low number of sentinel animals may have led to underreporting of infections.
Participant Demographics
Sentinel cattle were BTV-naive Holstein Friesian cows.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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