Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
I undestand that the disease is transmitted by midges and can "over-winter" in animals such as zebras but what is the orginal pathogen of the disease?
Asked: 13/1/2008, 16:49 by Abby Chapman.
Answered: 20/1/2008, 21:42 by James Urry.
African Horse Sickness is a virus. It affects all species of Equidae. It is classified as an Orbivirus of the Reoviridae family of which there are 9 serotypes. All serotypes (1-9) are distributed throughout South Africa. The virus is transmitted from animal to animal when Culicoides midge feeds on an infected animal, acquires the virus, and then feeds on a susceptible animal, transmitting the virus to the susceptible animal. The virus over-winters during periods of low midge activity (winter) in resistant Equines such as zebra.
Asked: 13/1/2008, 16:49 by Abby Chapman.
Answered: 20/1/2008, 21:42 by James Urry.
African Horse Sickness is a virus. It affects all species of Equidae. It is classified as an Orbivirus of the Reoviridae family of which there are 9 serotypes. All serotypes (1-9) are distributed throughout South Africa. The virus is transmitted from animal to animal when Culicoides midge feeds on an infected animal, acquires the virus, and then feeds on a susceptible animal, transmitting the virus to the susceptible animal. The virus over-winters during periods of low midge activity (winter) in resistant Equines such as zebra.
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