Dutch vets have identified a strain of bluetongue in cattle for which there is no vaccine

The Dutch Veterinary Service reported that it had detected an infectious disease caused by the bluetongue virus strain BTV12, against which there is no vaccine, in cattle, Reuters reports. The infected animals - a sheep and a cow with a calf - were discovered late last week on two farms in the central part of the country. Bluetongue (other names - catarrhal fever of sheep, blue tongue) is a deadly threat to domestic ruminants such as sheep, goats and cattle. The disease is seasonal, the main carrier of the pathogen is woodlice. Sheep are most susceptible to the disease, especially young animals. The bluetongue variant BTV3 has been circulating in Europe since the end of last year. Countries where cases of infection in cattle have been detected (including France and the Netherlands) have carried out vaccination campaigns. The Dutch Ministry of Agriculture said that cases of cattle infection with the BTV12 strain had previously only been reported in countries ...