Bluetongue and epizootic haemorrhagic disease in wildlife with emphasis on the South American scenario

Abstract

Bluetongue (BT) and epizootic haemorrhagic disease (EHD) are two OIE‑listed vector borne diseases of domestic and wild ruminants caused by two orbiviruses, BT virus (BTV) and EHD virus, respectively. Also wildlife can be infected by these two viruses. They can manifest a variable range of clinical signs and lesions. Some species appear to be extremely susceptible showing, indeed, high mortality rates, others may act only as reservoirs, playing however, an important epidemiological role. The purpose of this review is to describe the clinical and pathological manifestations related to these diseases in wildlife species and to review available literature on BTV/EHDV‑infected wildlife species with emphasis for the south American scenario.

Keywords

• Wild animals
• Epizootic haemorrhagic disease virus
• Bluetongue virus
• Clinical signs
• Pathology
• Orbivirus