A novel bluetongue virus serotype 2 strain isolated from a farmed Florida white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) arose from reassortment of gene segments derived from co-circulating serotypes in the Southeastern USA
Bluetongue disease is a reportable animal disease that affects wild and farmed ruminants, including antelope, buffalo, cattle, deer, elk, goat, and sheep. The disease is caused by bluetongue virus (BTV), which is mainly transmitted by Culicoides biting midges.