Bluetongue--an analysis of current problems, with particular reference to importation of ruminants to the United States
Gibbs, E.P.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 182(11): 1190-1194
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-1488 PMID: 6305899 Document Number: 212929
A recent decision by the United States Department of Agriculture to allow importation of ruminants with serological evidence of prior infection with unknown types of bluetongue virus has caused concern among producers of sheep and cattle, and wild life conservationists. The decision was made despite the fact that only four of the 22 types of bluetongue have been isolated in the USA, and the acknowledged insensitivity of existing diagnostic techniques for certifying livestock free from infection. The decision has been opposed by the US Animal Health Association. This paper reviews the history of the disease, the current national and international problems associated with bluetongue, examines the evolution and risks of the present USDA policy, and proposes revision of the policy through liaison between USDA and various national and international organizations. Bluetongue was first confirmed in California in 1952 and has since become an important disease for veterinarians, livestock owners and wild-life conservationists in the USA. The delineation of the areas of the country where the disease is likely to occur is difficult, since its distribution does not correspond with that of Culicoides variipennis (Coq.), which is considered to be the vector. The presence of the causal virus adversely affects the export of livestock and germplasm from the USA to countries where the disease does not occur. The author reviews the current national and international problems associated with the biology of bluetongue virus, examines the risks of the present policy of the USDA with regard to bluetongue and the importation of ruminants, and proposes a revision of this policy.