Nuevas herramientas para la prevención del endemismo de la lengua azul

Abstract

Bluetongue is a transboundary arboviral disease transmitted mainly by species of the genus Culicoides. It affects essentially ruminants and has a great socioeconomic and animal health impact in areas where is present. Hence, it is a notifiable disease for the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). At the end of the 20th century, it was considered an exotic disease in Europe, however, since 1998 there has been an incessant introduction and subsequent circulation of different strains of the bluetongue virus (BTV), the etiological agent of the disease. Its importance for the livestock industry justifies the study of the disease and its epidemiology to prevent its endemism in certain areas of Europe and specifically in Spain. Thus, the main objective of this thesis entitled “New tools to prevent the endemism of bluetongue”, is to develop and apply tools to improve active surveillance, control and eradication plans for bluetongue in Spain...