Anatomy of bluetongue virus serotype 8 epizootic wave, France, 2007-2008.
The introduction of bluetongue virus serotype 8 into northern Europe at the end of summer 2006 initiated one of the most widespread epizootics of bluetongue infection ever to occur. In winter 2007-2008, a cross-sectional serologic study was conducted in France along a transect perpendicular to the epizootic wave. Cattle herd-level seroprevalence varied from 4% to 100%, and animal-level seroprevalence from <1% to 40%. Only a low proportion of seropositive herds reported clinical cases in 2007. Sheep flocks were less frequently affected than cattle herds. The local occurrence of clinical cases and environmental indicators linked to forests were seropositivity risk factors, whereas the local density of cows had a protective effect. Overall results suggest that amplification of virus circulation in affected herds played a limited role in the epizootic wave diffusion and that bluetongue virus serotype 8 circulation in natural ecosystems could have played a substantial role in this progression.
Agence Francaise de Securite Sanitaire des Aliment, Maisons-Alfort, France. benoit.durand@anses.fr
Benoit
B
Durand
Gina
G
Zanella
Fabienne
F
Biteau-Coroller
Caroline
C
Locatelli
Florence
F
Baurier
Cecile
C
Simon
Eric
E
Le Dréan
José
J
Delaval
Eric
E
Prengère
Véronique
V
Beauté
Hélène
H
Guis
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001819:Bluetongue / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001820:Bluetongue virus / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary*; D017753:Ecosystem; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D012621:Seasons; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012703:Serotyping; D012756:Sheep / Q000821:virology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral