DIAGNOSIS OF EPIZOOTIC HAEMORRAGIC DISEASE IN ISRAEL: A NEW OUTBREAK 2015

The epizootic haemorragic disease viruses (EHDV) belong to the family Reoviridae, genus Orbivirus and include seven serotypes (EHDV-1-7). The virus is transmitted by Culicoides spp. EHD is an OIE listed disease. The disease has been observed in wild and domestic ruminants in USA and Canada. EHDV-2 (Ibaraki strain) caused several outbreaks in cattle Japan. Recently EHDV-6 has expanded in the Mediterranean Basin causing disease in cattle.

In 2006 an outbreak of EHDV-7 was reported in Israeli cattle. Clinical signs were acute milk reduction, fever, weakness, stiff gait, trembling, nasal discharge, excessive salivation, recumbency, erythema, cyanosis and erosion of nasal and oral mucosae, with occasional abortion and death.

In 2006 the virus was isolated in Kimron Veterinary Institute (KVI), but identification and serotyping was done the Pirbright Institute (UK).

At the end of 2015 a new outbreak of EHDV was registered in Israel. Clinical signs were milder than those observed in 2006. EHD was suspected on the basis of clinical and epidemiological observations. Laboratory diagnosis performed in KVI, included identification of the virus by molecular methods, serological tests and virus isolation.

In the report we present the clinical and epidemiological data and laboratory findings.