Emergence of a Novel Reassortant Strain of Bluetongue Serotype 6 in Israel, 2017: Clinical Manifestations of the Disease and Molecular Characterization.

Reassortment contributes to the evolution of RNA viruses with segmented genomes, including Bluetongue virus (BTV). Recently, co-circulation of natural and vaccine BTV variants in Europe, and their ensuing reassortment, were proposed to promote appearance of novel European BTV strains, with potential implications for pathogenicity, spread and vaccination policies. Similarly, the geographical features of the Mediterranean basin, which spans over portions of three continents, may facilitate the appearance of clinically relevant reassortants via co-circulation of BTV strains of African, Asian and European origins.

Epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus serotype 6 outbreak in Israeli cattle in 2015.

In September 2015, a large outbreak caused by epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) was identified in Israeli dairy and beef farms. The main clinical signs were reduced milk production, weakness, drooling, lameness and recumbency, fever, slight erythema of nasal and oral mucosae, weight loss, and abortion. Dyspnea, cachexia, and death were observed less frequently.