It is perhaps the most frequently asked question among sheep farmers at the moment: how do I prevent my sheep from getting bluetongue? The answer is disappointing.
Preventing bluetongue is virtually impossible, say veterinarians Reinard Everts and Judith van Andel.
Do mosquito sprays help?
Bluetongue is spread by infected midges, small mosquitoes. However, spraying with insecticides is not a solution, both veterinarians say. Van Andel: “We know from the previous bluetongue infection BTV-8 that it does not help, no matter how much I would like it to. And I hope that sheep farmers don’t start spraying because you also kill many other insects unnecessarily. You do more harm than good.”
Everts adds: “In general, they still sting despite spraying and only die after some time. It therefore does not help against bluetongue infection. You could possibly only do it during transport in a cart, so that you avoid spreading the virus. The mosquito will then be dead on arrival, but that will no longer help your own sheep.”
What can I do against bluetongue?
What can you do to prevent bluetongue? “Very little, it is disastrous. Place sheep outside in the wind, or inside with good ventilation. Do not place them near large puddles of stagnant water because that attracts mosquitoes,” says Van Andel. “Or don’t put sheep with cows, because they can also get it but often get less sick. The cows can therefore act as a kind of contamination reservoir. Although it gives no guarantees whatsoever.” Everts: “Yes, cows are indeed very attractive to mosquitoes, although there are many cases where there are infections and there is no cow nearby. There is no way to measure it, but you still want to do something sometimes, I understand that.”
Waiting for vaccine
We are waiting for a vaccine. Now that it appears that the virus is spreading fairly quickly and is expected to spread throughout the Netherlands by the end of the year, neighboring countries are also coming into view. This makes it more likely that pharmaceutical companies will work a little harder on a vaccine; their sales area will simply expand.
Everts has close contact with 15 large veterinary practices and together they are considering developing an anesthetic gel for the mouth so that the animals continue to drink and eat and therefore recover faster. Tests are also being conducted with a drug to strengthen the immune system. “All clinical support, no drugs,” he says quickly. “It is of course better if your animal is in good condition, at least most of the time, but that does not always help.”
Van Andel had already heard about practices where veterinarians give vaccines under the guise of cross-immunity. That makes no sense at all, really don’t do it,” is her firm opinion.
Chances
The veterinarians cannot yet provide estimates of the animals’ chances of recovery. Everts: “Unfortunately, at every company where there are infections, there are also deaths to report. Then you spend a week doctoring with a blanket and suddenly it dies. Very frustrating and sad. Fortunately, we also see that the vast majority will survive, at least that’s what I think so far, but I don’t have figures yet, it’s still too early for that.”
Veterinarian Tim reports his experiences on Twitter: “Most seem to respond well to treatment with painkillers and anti-inflammatories and one sheep has been euthanized out of more than 50 suspected cases so far at three locations in our area. Now waiting for official confirmation of the last two suspicions from the NVWA.”
Read more in this file about bluetongue…
2023-09-20 06:12:00
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