Emerging Infectious Diseases (Dec 2009)

Transplacental Transmission of Bluetongue Virus 8 in Cattle, UK

  • Karin E. Darpel,
  • Carrie A. Batten,
  • Eva Veronesi,
  • Susanna Williamson,
  • Peter Anderson,
  • Mike Dennison,
  • Stuart Clifford,
  • Ciaran Smith,
  • Lucy Philips,
  • Cornelia Bidewell,
  • Katarzyna Bachanek-Bankowska,
  • Anna Sanders,
  • Abid Bin-Tarif,
  • Anthony J. Wilson,
  • Simon Gubbins,
  • Peter P.C. Mertens,
  • Chris A. Oura,
  • Philip S. Mellor

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3201/eid1512.090788
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 15, no. 12
pp. 2025 – 2028

Abstract

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To determine whether transplacental transmission could explain overwintering of bluetongue virus in the United Kingdom, we studied calves born to dams naturally infected during pregnancy in 2007–08. Approximately 33% were infected transplacentally; some had compromised health. In all infected calves, viral load decreased after birth; no evidence of persistent infection was found.

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