Serologic evidence of bluetongue infection in one-humped camels (Camelus dromedarius) in Kerman province, Iran

Herein, we presented the first report on bluetongue (BT) disease in 10 pregnant camels in a herd from Kerman province, Iran. All sera samples were tested serologically (AGID, C-ELISA). We also used the Razi-BK cell line, performed primary culture of ovine kidney and inoculated intravenously the embryonated chicken eggs (ECE) to culture and isolate the BT virus. Efforts to culture and isolation of BT virus have met with very limited success. Following precipitation test (AGID) and C-ELISA, 5 of 10 sera in AGID test, and all in C-ELISA became positive. Further studies are needed on the ecology of camels and vector midges to clarify the reason for infection of the camels in Iran.