Blue tongue disease

Blue tongue disease is caused by a virus transmitted by insects that affects ruminants, sheep and cows and has a low incidence of cow disease compared to sheep. This disease is common in the summer, where mosquitoes and blood arthropods are transmitted by blood to sheep and cows rather than by contact and touch. And the incubation period of 6-8 days during which show some symptoms of the infection, such as: the presence of fever with severe congestion in the mucous membrane of the mouth, and the occurrence of blisters and bleeding in the mouth and lips, and when infected must be treated immediately for fear of causing the death of animals Infected.

There are some ruminants that are infected but not affected, and the disease does not pose any danger or threat to human life, even if the consumption of meat of these animals infected, and the origin of the disease to Africa and the tropical regions, but today is widespread in all parts The world, causing great loss to breeders of sheep and cows because of the death of large numbers of livestock and animals, in addition to the strict restrictions imposed on them after the spread.

Symptoms of Blue Tongue Disease

High temperature of infected animal.
The animal is prone to lethargy and laziness with anorexia.
Increased secretions of the nose, mucus and saliva from the mouth.
Inflammation of the mucous membrane of the mouth and hemorrhagic spots that later become blue.
The animal has severe diarrhea.
Inflammation of the head and muscle pain of the affected animal.
Inflammation of the lungs and eyes.
Pregnant women are exposed to abortion.
Difficulty walking or walking abnormally.
Dry crusts shall be at the mouth of the animal’s mouth.
In acute and advanced cases, the tongue appears blue.

Diagnosis of the disease

Diagnosis and identification of the disease through the clinical signs that appear on the infected animal, as well as through the sampling of blood and spleen and examination in the laboratory and the search for the virus in it, and can diagnose the disease through autopsies, where there is congestion and bleeding in the lung, heart and digestive system.

Treatment and prevention

There are no special treatments for this disease, but it can be prevented and protected sheep and ruminants from being infected by the following methods:

Identify and dispose of infected animals, sheep and cows.
Use appropriate insecticides to eliminate the carrier medium of the disease.
Use vaccines for the disease that protect healthy and non-infected animals from the disease.