Abstract:
An account is given of an investigation into the transmission of blue-tongue
and horse-sickness conducted at Onderstepoort during 1942 and 1943.
Three positive infections with blue-tongue and one with horse-sickness,
following the injection of emulsions of wild-caught Culicoides into susceptible
animals, are recorded.
The successful transmission of blue-tongue by the bites of Culicoides,
which fed on experimentally sheep 10 days previously, is described.
The identity of the diseases in question had been established clinically,
by subinoculations into susceptible animals and by immunity tests with
homologous strains of the particular virus where possible. The author is
quite confident of the correctness of the diagnoses of the disease conditions
produced.
The special light trap used in the investigation for the trapping of
Culicoides and the technique of handling and storing these insects are briefly
described.
It is concluded that certain species of the genus Culicoides are capable
of becoming infected with and transmitting to susceptible animals by bite
the virus of blue-tongue of sheep.
From the evidence advanced it is anticipated that the transmitter or
transmitters of horse-sickness will be found within the genus Culicoides.
