Johansson Wensman, Jonas
- Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
- National Veterinary Institute (SVA)
Abstract
Bluetongue (BT), caused by the Bluetongue virus (BTV), is a vector-borne disease that primarily affects domestic and wild ruminants and is recognized globally for its significant impact on animal health, livestock productivity, and the economy. While traditionally considered as a disease confined to ruminants, recent evidence reveals that BTV has a broader host range, expanding to atypical species, including carnivores. This review consolidates current knowledge on natural and experimental BTV infection in atypical hosts, with particular emphasis on carnivores. The occurrence of acute or subacute infections, together with the detection of BTV-specific antibodies and viral RNA in carnivores such as dogs and lynx, points to a broader ecological interface. Expanding our understanding of BTV infection beyond classical ruminant hosts is essential for refining surveillance and control strategies, and for anticipating shifts in disease ecology under changing environmental and epidemiological conditions.
Keywords
Bluetongue; carnivore; host expansion; natural infection; experimental infection; epidemiological role
Published in
Veterinary Quarterly
2025, volume: 45, number: 1, article number: 2588740
Publisher: TAYLOR AND FRANCIS LTD
SLU Authors
UKÄ Subject classification
Pathobiology
Publication identifier
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01652176.2025.2588740
Permanent link to this page (URI)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/144964