Bluetongue Virus in Morocco from 2004-2012

Abstract

Bluetongue (BT) is an infectious, non-contagious disease of domestic and wild ruminants caused by Bluetongue Virus (BTV). The disease is quite prevalent in Morocco where serotypes BTV-1 and BTV-4 were found circulating since 2006. Despite use of attenuated bivalent vaccine, outbreaks are not uncommon each year along with lack of knowledge in geographical evolution of each serotype. Here, in this retrospective study from 2004-2012, we have determined current status of BTV prevalence and its serotypes together with techniques used for virus isolation, its antigen and antibody detection. Overall the prevalence of BTV was found to be 77.61% (728/938) and 76.94% (307/339), respectively. Although, we noticed some variation in year-wise distribution of each serotype particularly BTV- 1 where BTV-4 was more prevalent than BTV-1 (45.77% vs. 40.59%). The study provides a baseline data upon circulating serotypes of BTV in Morocco over the years that will certainly help devising its control strategies in future.