Emergence of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in the Netherlands in September 2023

Holwerda, M.; Santman-Berends, I.; Harders, F.; Engelsma, M. Y.; Vloet, R.; Dijkstra, E.; van Gennip, R.; Mars, J.; Spierenburg, M.; Roos, L.; van den Brom, R.; van Rijn, P.

doi:10.1101/2023.09.29.560138

bioRxiv · 10.1101/2023.09.29.560138

Emergence of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in the Netherlands in September 2023

Holwerda, M.·Santman-Berends, I.·Harders, F.·Engelsma, M. Y.·Vloet, R.·Dijkstra, E.·van Gennip, R.·Mars, J.·Spierenburg, M.·Roos, L.·van den Brom, R.·van Rijn, P.

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Abstract

Since 1998, WOAH-notifiable bluetongue virus (BTV) serotype 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, and 16 have been reported in Europe. In mid-August, 2006, a BTV-8 outbreak started in Northwestern Europe. The Netherlands was declared BT-free again in February 2012 and annual monitoring demonstrated BT-freedom up to 2023. On September 3rd 2023, clinical manifestations in sheep typical for BT were notified to the Dutch Food and Product Safety Consumer Authority. Laboratory diagnosis confirmed BTV-infection on September 6 and the first notifications of clinical signs in cattle were also reported. Two days later, the virus was identified as serotype 3 by whole genome sequencing. Clinical signs were like these of BTV-8 outbreak and were most serious in sheep. Retrospective analysis revealed no earlier circulation of BTV. It was concluded that the BTV-3 outbreak was detected shortly after introduction, while the virus source and route of introduction remains unknown. Article summary lineDuring September 2023, a novel serotype 3 Bluetongue virus (BTV) emerged in the Netherlands which affected sheep and cattle.

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Holwerda, M., Santman-Berends, I., Harders, F., Engelsma, M. Y., Vloet, R., Dijkstra, E., van Gennip, R., Mars, J., Spierenburg, M., Roos, L., van den Brom, R., van Rijn, P.. 2023-09-29. Emergence of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in the Netherlands in September 2023. https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.09.29.560138

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