Epizootic heamorragic disease

Abstract

Epizootic haemorrhagic disease (EHD) is an infectious non-contagious viral disease transmitted by insects of the genus Culicoides which affects wild and domestic ruminants. The causative agent, the epizootic haemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV), belongs to the family Reoviridae, genus Orbivirus and shares many morphological and structural characteristics with the other members of the genus such as bluetongue, African horse sickness and equine encephalosis viruses. In recent years EHD outbreaks have been reported in countries bordering the European Union. They caused disease in cattle and severe repercussion on the livestock industry of the affected countries. In the light of recent European bluetongue epizootic these events pose an increasing threat to the European Union. This review includes the most recent information regarding the virus and the disease as well as tools for its diagnosis and control. It is our conviction that more attention should be drawn to both EHDV and the disease itself in order to fulfil all these gaps and not to be unprepared in case future possible incursions.