Clinical Signs in Cattle Infected with BTV-8

In the Northern European Bluetongue virus serotype-8 outbreak of 2006, more cattle were affected when compared with other Bluetongue outbreaks. Postmortem examinations of cattle after experimental infection with recent northern European BTV‑8 isolates revealed pathology that was more severe than suggested by the mild clinical signs that had been observed.

Clinical signs seen in cattle:

• Erosions on the mucosa of mouth and nose
• Mucopurulent (snotty) nasal discharge
• Lacrimation and peri-ocular oedema and petechiae (weeping and red, swollen eyes)
• Oedema (swelling), erythema (redness)and ulceration on teats udder and vulva
• Lameness with interdigital lesions (ulcers between the claws), coronitis (redness and swelling at the top of the hoof) and oedema of the legs
• Photosensitive-like lesions (severe sunburn) on the teats and udder”

The images below are cattle diagnosed with BTV-8 during the 2006-2007 outbreak in the Netherlands.