Culicoides species involved in the BTV-3 epidemic, the Netherlands, 2023-2024.

ABSTRACT: Bluetongue virus (BTV) is an arthropod-borne virus that is transmitted between ruminants by Culicoides (Order Diptera, Family Ceratopogonidae) midges. In September 2023, BTV serotype 3 (BTV-3/NET2023) emerged in the Netherlands, causing a devastating epidemic in sheep and cattle. The aim of this study was to determine which midge species contributed to the spread of BTV-3 and to what extent the virus is present in local midge populations. Midges were collected using Onderstepoort UV-light suction traps on BTV-affected farms in the centre of the Netherlands, from October 2023 till March 2024. Species, sex and parity of the midges were morphologically determined. Pooled female parous and gravid midges were subjected to pan-BTV and BTV-3 real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing. Pool

SUBMITTER: Uiterwijk M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12865740 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature