bluetongue

[bloo-tuhng]

noun

Veterinary Pathology.

1. a viral disease of sheep and sometimes cattle, transmitted by biting insects and characterized by high fever, excessive salivation, swelling of the face and tongue, and cyanosis of the tongue.

bluetongue

¹

/ ˌbluːˈtʌŋ /

noun

1. an Australian lizard, Tiliqua scincoides , having a cobalt-blue tongue

bluetongue

²

/ ˌbluːˈtʌŋ /

noun

1. vet science a viral disease of domestic and wild ruminants transmitted by arthropods and characterized by reproductive problems or vasculitis. Sheep, which are most frequently affected, develop swelling of the face and a cyanotic tongue

Word History and Origins

Origin of bluetongue¹

First recorded in 1860–65; blue + tongue

Example Sentences

Wales' chief vet Richard Irvine said bluetongue, a virus transmitted by midge bites that affects cattle, sheep and goats, was "a potentially devastating disease".

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Other issues set to dominate include the ongoing row over changes to inheritance tax rules for farmers, and restrictions to trade along the Welsh border as a result of bluetongue disease.

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Restrictions brought in to try to prevent the bluetongue virus spreading to livestock in Wales are futile and impractical, farming unions have said.

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A new strain of the bluetongue virus - which originated in the Netherlands - was detected in England in 2023.

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He also said the government was taking action to prevent the spread of diseases like bird flu and bluetongue.

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