Todayโs path rounds are on ๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ญ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ฎ๐!
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ญ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ฎ๐ is a viral infection, caused by ๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ญ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฏ๐ข๐ซ๐ฎ๐ฌ. The virus gets its name because it can cause ๐๐ฒ๐๐ง๐จ๐ฌ๐ข๐ฌ (blue tinge to the tissue) of the tongue! Weird.
๐๐ก๐จ ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
This disease affects ruminants!
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
Bluetongue virus is transmitted by ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฆ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ฌ. The midge feeds on an infected animal, acquiring the virus. The midge then deposits the virus in the next animal it feeds on. Some strains of bluetongue virus may also spread by direct contact between animals.
๐๐ก๐ฒ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ?
Bluetongue virus characteristically damages ๐๐ง๐๐จ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฌ, which are the cells that line blood vessels. This results in a ๐ฏ๐๐ฌ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐ฌ (inflammation of vessels), and leakage of fluid and blood into the tissues. Ultimately, this results in ๐๐๐๐ฆ๐ (fluid swelling) and multiple small hemorrhages throughout the body. In many cases, ๐ญ๐ก๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ข (blood clots) form in the damaged vessels, preventing bloodflow to tissues. These thrombi particularly seem to affect the heart muscle, causing tissue death and ultimately heart failure.
๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐ง๐จ๐ฌ๐๐?
Diagnosis typically involves identifying the virus directly, through testing for its ๐๐๐ (viral genome).
๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐๐? ๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฏ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐?
Unfortunately there is no specific treatment for bluetongue, other than supportive care. In some countries, this disease is considered ๐ซ๐๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐๐๐ฅ๐, meaning that government officials must get involved to control the spread of disease. Prevention typically focuses on reducing exposure to midges, although vaccines are available in some countries.
๐๐ก๐จ๐ญ๐จ๐ฌ
1-4) Small hemorrhages throughout the body! Hemorrhages are characteristically found in the mouth, esophagus, and around the aorta.
5) A silly photo from when my friend and I made a pathology cake of a sheep with bluetongue virus! She also has orf infection, made of delicious cranberries.
๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐๐ฌ
Lear AS. Bluetongue in ruminants. Merck Veterinary Manual 2022.
Photos 1-4 ยฉ Noahโs Arkive contributors Allison, King licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
