title: Experimental infection of camels with bluetongue virus.
abstract: Three camels aged 4-5 years were experimentally infected with Bluetongue virus serotype 1 (BTV-1) and were observed for 75 days. No clinical signs of disease were observed throughout the experiment, however all three animals seroconverted and developed BTV-1 specific neutralising antibodies after challenge. All three camels developed a viraemia from 7 days post infection albeit at a lower level than that usually observed in experimental infections of sheep and cattle. Virus was isolated from the blood of all three animals suggesting that camels may act as a reservoir for BTV and play an important role in its transmission.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Animal Health, Ash Road, Pirbright, Woking, GU24 0NF, UK.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Batten
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Harif
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Henstock
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghizlane
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Loutfi
authors.forename: C A L
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Oura
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: El Harrak
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001819:Bluetongue / Q000821:virology*; D001820:Bluetongue virus / Q000472:pathogenicity; D002162:Camelus / Q000821:virology*; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000662:veterinary / Q000821:virology; D013997:Time Factors; D014766:Viremia / Q000662:veterinary / Q000821:virology