Changes

==Hosts==

==Hosts==

All ruminants, including sheep, goats, cattle, buffaloes, camels, antelopes and

All ruminants are susceptible to bluetongue virus  infection, including sheep, goats, cattle, deer, buffaloes, camels and antelopes. Sheep are most severely affected, and disease is occasionally seen in goats. Although cattle BTV infection is significant in the epidemiology of disease, the condition is generally subclinical in this host. Mortalities in white-tailed deer due to bluetongue<sup1</sup>.

deer, are susceptible to BTV infection. Of the domestic species, sheep are clinically

 

the most severely affected. Sickness is sometimes reported in goats and severe disease

Pigs and horses do not become infected with BTV, but may act as a food source for the Culicoides midges that transmit bluetongue virus to ruminants. Their habitats may also provide areas suitable for vector breeding.

and mortalities occur in white-tailed deer in the United States. Although the infection

of cattle is of great epidemiological significance, it is generally sub-clinical. Horses

and pigs are not infected by BTV but Culicoides may feed upon them and the premises

where they are kept may provide suitable vector breeding sites.

==Transmission==

==Transmission==