Bluetongue: how to spot and report it
The signs of bluetongue virus and how you must report it in sheep, cattle and other livestock.
Applies to England
Bluetongue is a notifiable disease caused by infection with bluetongue virus. Bluetongue virus is mainly spread by biting midges.
Bluetongue virus affects:
- sheep
- cattle
- other ruminants such as deer and goats
- camelids such as llamas and alpacas
Rarely, bluetongue can affect dogs and other carnivores if they eat infected material (such as aborted material and afterbirth).
It does not affect people or food safety, but outbreaks can result in prolonged animal movement and trade restrictions.
Signs of bluetongue
If you keep livestock, you must keep a close watch for and report any suspicion of bluetongue in your animals.
The severity of the infection depends on the type (serotype) of the virus and may also be affected by the strain.
In sheep
Sheep are more likely to show obvious clinical signs of bluetongue than cattle if they become infected with bluetongue virus. Signs of bluetongue in sheep include:
- ulcers or sores in the mouth and nose
- discharge from the eyes or nose and drooling from mouth
- swelling of the lips, tongue, head and neck and the coronary band (where the skin of the leg meets the horn of the foot)
Other clinical signs include:
- red skin as a result of blood collecting beneath the surface
- fever
- lameness
- breathing problems
- abortion, foetal deformities and stillbirths
- death
In lambs
Lambs can become infected with bluetongue virus before birth if the dam is infected while pregnant. Signs of infection include:
- lambs born small, weak, deformed or blind
- death of lambs within a few days of birth
- stillbirths
In cattle
Signs of bluetongue in cattle include:
- lethargy
- crusty erosions around the nostrils and muzzle
- redness of the mouth, eyes, nose
- reddening of the skin above the hoof
- nasal discharge
- reddening and erosions on the teats
- fever
- milk drop
- not eating
- abortion, foetal deformities and stillbirths
Adult cattle may be infectious for several weeks while showing little or no sign of disease. They are often the preferred host for biting midges (the vector of bluetongue virus).
In calves
Calves can become infected with bluetongue virus before birth if the mother is infected while pregnant. Signs of infection include:
- calves born small, weak, deformed or blind
- death of calves within a few days of birth
- stillbirths
Photos of signs of bluetongue
Credit: The Pirbright Institute.
A photo of a sheep with its mouth open showing a blue and swollen tongue.
Credit: The Pirbright Institute.
A photo of a sheep with its open mouth open showing ulcers on the gums.
There are moreare more photos showingof theclinical signs of bluetongue on Flickr.
Report suspected bluetongue
If you suspect bluetongue, you must report it immediately by calling:
- 03000 200 301 in England
- 03003 038 268 in Wales
- your
locallocal Field Services Officeinin Scotland
Bluetongue is a notifiable disease. This means if you do not report it, you’re breaking the law.
Find out what happens when you report bluetongue, including support available.
Suspected bluetongue in animals born, stillborn or aborted in a restricted zone
You must report animals born, stillborn or aborted with suspected bluetongue immediately. When you call, a duty vet from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) will discuss the situation with you.
If the APHA vet can rule out bluetongue, no further action is needed.
If they cannot rule out bluetongue, they will decide whether an on-site investigation is needed at this stage. This comes down to whether all of the following conditions are met:
-
the animal is on a holding in the bluetongue restricted zone
-
the animal was either aborted, stillborn or is less than 21 days old
-
the dam did not move onto the farm from outside the restricted zone during pregnancy
-
there are no other susceptible animals on the premises with signs of bluetongue
-
no other notifiable diseases are suspected
If all the above are true, APHA will not arrange an on-site investigation. An authorisation code will be provided to allow your private vet to submit samples directly to the Pirbright Institute for free testing. You will need to cover the cost of sampling and postage.
Preventing and controlling bluetongue
Find out how to prevent bluetongue and stop it spreading.