Scientists identify T-cells involved in anti-viral immunity and disease during bluetongue virus infection in sheep
A unique study has highlighted an important role for ‘helper’ T-cells in enabling sheep to mount a timely protective immune response to bluetongue virus (BTV) infection.
Transmitted by Culicoides biting midges, bluetongue virus has recently been detected in over 80 sheep and cattle across farms spanning three counties in southern and eastern England. Infected midges are thought to have been blown across the channel from the Netherlands, where it was first detected at the end of last year.