Bluetongue Viruses

Bluetongue viruses (BTV) cause diseases that have serious economic consequences in ruminants (sheep, cattle) in many parts of the world. The incidence of bluetongue disease affects the international movement of animals and germ plasm. Although the etiological agent of the disease was isolated in 1900 and preliminary biochemical characterizations were pub­ lished as early as in 1969, most of the current understanding of the molecular biology, biochemistry, and genetics of BTV has evolved onl...