Preliminary observations on transplacental infection of bluetongue virus in sheep-a possible overwintering mechanism.
Sheep infected mid-gestation with bluetongue virus type 4 and type 16 produced clinically normal lambs that were viraemic at birth. Viraemia persisted for two months in some lambs even though they received colostrum. It is suggested that transplacental infection of bluetongue virus in sheep may be an overwintering mechanism for the virus in some areas of the world.
D000818:Animals; D001819:Bluetongue / Q000151:congenital* / Q000382:microbiology; D001820:Bluetongue virus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D011247:Pregnancy; D012621:Seasons; D012756:Sheep; D014766:Viremia / Q000151:congenital / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary