The first bluetongue virus isolation in Yugoslavia.

Catarrhal fever in sheep or bluetongue (BT) has not been recorded in Yugoslavia until recently. During the first incidence of BT disease in Serbia and Montenegro in 2001, the authors conducted field studies on suspected cases of the disease and collected samples for laboratory diagnosis. BT virus (BTV) was isolated and identified as serotype 9 by the Institute for Animal Health in Pirbright, United Kingdom (the Office International des Epizooties BT reference laboratory).