Real-time quantitative reverse transcription-PCR assays specifically detecting bluetongue virus serotypes 1, 6, and 8

Bluetongue virus (BTV) is a major pathogen of ruminants. Especially serotypes 1, 6, and 8 are of concern to veterinary authorities in central Europe. This article describes highly sensitive real-time reverse transcription-PCR assays directed to BTV genome segment 2 for specific detection of BTV-1, -6, or -8 in animal samples.