It is a disease that affects ruminants: bluetongue (BTV). For several months, a particularly virulent strain, BTV-8, has been spreading in European herds, affecting Belgium, Switzerland, but also France, where departments such as Ariège and Pyrénées-Orientales are facing an increase in cases. “The situation caused by bluetongue disease in the Pyrénées-Orientales is very complicated for everyone,” emphasizes Thomas Ribes, president of the agricultural union of Vallespir, with The Independent.
The disease of “blue tongue”, “is a viral disease that mainly affects sheep and can also affect cattle, goats and other wild ruminants,” explains the National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety (ANSES).
The latter does not affect humans and does not deteriorate the health quality of foodstuffs from sick animals such as meat or milk. However, it can have serious economic consequences for farmers.
Blue tongue disease: how is it transmitted between ruminants?
As explained by Anses, this disease was originally present in Africa but it “has gradually expanded northwards over the past several decades, probably due to the global warming and international trade”. It was first detected in Northern Europe in 2006. The first case in France was a dairy cow from a farm in the Ardennes. Faced with the increase in cases, France then stressed the importance of vaccination in the various ruminants likely to be affected by the disease. After several years without new cases, the virus made a comeback in 2015.
In total, there are 27 different types of this virus, including “pathogenicity varies considerably from one strain to another.” In France, serotypes 4 and 8 are present. Currently, it is serotype 8, described as particularly virulent, which is causing new cases. This disease is transmitted “from one infected animal to another by a bite from a midge of the genus Culicoides”. These are biting midges. To limit its spread, vaccination is the most effective means.
Bluetongue: what are the symptoms in ruminants?
Symptoms of the disease can vary in ruminants, depending on the serotype. For serotypes 4 and 8 present in the territory, these are:
- fever ;
- respiratory problems;
- salivation ;
- facial edema;
- cyanosis of the tongue (blue tongue).
Sources :
- “Blue tongue” disease in the Pyrénées-Orientales: “I don’t have a miracle solution, but I feel invested” – L’Indépendant 07/13/2024
- Bluetongue in 5 questions – French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety (ANSES)
- Bluetongue Fever (BTF) – ESA Platform
- Blue tongue – World Organisation for Animal Health
