Present study was an attempt to isolate and propagate blue tongue virus (BTV) in BHK-21 cell culture following initial passage through an embryonating chicken egg (ECE) system. All the infected embryos showed the characteristic changes, which were cherry red discolouration, oedema, cutaneous haemorrhages and stunted growth. Infected BHK-21 monolayers showed characteristic cytopathic effects, which were rounding and aggregation of cells, intracytoplasmic inclusions, vacuolations and granulation of cell cytoplasm. Some cells also showed degenerative changes and sloughed off from the glass surface. In order to facilitate an accurate diagnosis of BT, it is usually necessary to isolate the virus and correctly identify it by using a suitable in vitro test. In this study, direct fluorescent antibody test (d-FAT) was used to detect BTV group specific antigen in infected ECE and BHK-21 cell culture. The d-FAT detected BTV group specific antige in different BHK-21 cell culture harvests at different intervals. The results indicated the presence of specific fluorescence in different virus isolates at 24 hrs and 48 hrs PI. The immunofluorescence in BHK-21 cells was predominately jutanuclear position. The above findings suggested that blue tongue infection is prevalent in buffalo in India. Isolation of BTV from an aborted foetus confirmed its association in causing abortion in buffalo. This was first report in this country.