Schmallenberg virus : new Akabane-like virus in cattle, sheep and goats in Europe - 2011/2012

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Schmallenberg virus : new Akabane-like virus in cattle, sheep and goats in Europe

New cases reported: apparently new infections in 2012.

Germany: current Information on Schmallenberg virus

last updated September 25, 2012

As of 21 May case numbers and map will be updated weekly.

In Germany animals from 1837 holdings have been tested positive for Schmallenberg virus so far.

The cases occurred in 918 cattle holdings, 871 sheep holdings and 48 goat holdings.

Affected federal states are North Rhine-Westphalia (267 cattle, 273 sheep, 13 goat holdings), Lower Saxony (226 cattle, 143 sheep, 6 goat holdings), Hesse (121 cattle, 137 sheep holdings, 9 goat holdings), Schleswig-Holstein (100 cattle, 101 sheep holdings, 1 goat holding), Rhineland-Palatinate (1 Bison holding, 50 cattle, 43 sheep, 5 goat holdings), Baden-Wuerttemberg (24 cattle, 25 sheep, 6 goat holdings), Brandenburg (24 cattle, 21 sheep holdings), Thuringia (28 cattle, 31 sheep, 2 goat holdings), Saxony-Anhalt (18 cattle, 23 sheep, 2 goat holdings), Hamburg (2 cattle, 6 sheep holdings), Bavaria (38 cattle, 18 sheep holdings, 1 goat holding), Saxony (8 cattle holding, 36 sheep holdings), Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (10 cattle, 10 sheep holdings, 1 goat holding), Saarland (1 cattle holding, 4 sheep, 2 goat holdings) and Berlin (1 sheep holding).

FLI

link to updated map

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Schmallenberg virus : new Akabane-like virus in cattle, sheep and goats in Europe

Detecting SBV in cattle could be a political problem. Export of cattle to Russia is at stake.


Schmallenberg virus found in goats in Poland

Date: Mon 1 Oct 2012

Source: Jaroslav Kaba [edited]

Antibodies to Schmallenberg virus (SBV) were detected in the serum of 21 goats in western Poland along the border with Germany. Blood was collected between 24 and 30 Jul 2012 from 230 adult (over one-year-old) goats kept on farms where no new goat had been introduced since the beginning of 2011. ELISA testing (ID Screen Schmallenberg virus indirect, IDvet Innovative Diagnostics) was used as a diagnostic method.

This is the 1st notification of the presence of antibodies to SBV in Central and Eastern Europe.

Jaroslaw Kaba, DVM, PhD
Michal Czopowicz, DVM
Lucjan Witkowski, DVM, PhD

Department of Large Animal Diseases with the Clinic,
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,
Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW


ProMED

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Schmallenberg virus : new Akabane-like virus in cattle, sheep and goats in Europe

machinetranslation from Swedish

2012-10-04

For the first time antibodies against Schmallenbergvirus found in Swedish cattle.

For the first time antibodies against Schmallenbergvirus found in Swedish cows. The discovery was made in three cows in Blekinge, which does not have the virus and not show any symptoms. (TT)

The virus has hit European countries and can lead to malformed or dead offspring in cows, sheep and goats.

UNT

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Schmallenberg virus : new Akabane-like virus in cattle, sheep and goats in Europe

Monitoring Schmallenbergvirus in Sweden

Machinetranslated fragment from SVA website:

The serological testing of 650 dairy herds in southern Sweden, three animals with serological response (antibodies) against the virus found.

The three animals from the same herd, located in Blekinge. In a serological examination of sera from 600 sheep have a positive serological reagent found.

The results suggest that a small number of infected midges introduced to Sweden in Höste 2011 and infected some animals.

No distribution within the country or within herds have been seen and it is not likely that the infection could hibernate. The serological reaktonerna related to herds without clinical symptoms.

SVA

See map for geographical distribution of blood samples .

Blekinge region in the south of Sweden.

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Schmallenberg virus : new Akabane-like virus in cattle, sheep and goats in Europe

Germany: current Information on Schmallenberg virus

last updated October 2, 2012

As of 21 May case numbers and map will be updated weekly.

In Germany animals from 1844 holdings have been tested positive for Schmallenberg virus so far.

The cases occurred in 923 cattle holdings, 873 sheep holdings and 48 goat holdings.

Affected federal states are North Rhine-Westphalia (267 cattle, 273 sheep, 13 goat holdings), Lower Saxony (226 cattle, 143 sheep, 6 goat holdings), Hesse (121 cattle, 137 sheep holdings, 9 goat holdings), Schleswig-Holstein (103 cattle, 101 sheep holdings, 1 goat holding), Rhineland-Palatinate (1 Bison holding, 50 cattle, 43 sheep, 5 goat holdings), Baden-Wuerttemberg (25 cattle, 25 sheep, 6 goat holdings), Brandenburg (24 cattle, 21 sheep holdings), Thuringia (28 cattle, 31 sheep, 2 goat holdings), Saxony-Anhalt (18 cattle, 23 sheep, 2 goat holdings), Hamburg (2 cattle, 6 sheep holdings), Bavaria (38 cattle, 20 sheep holdings, 1 goat holding), Saxony (8 cattle holding, 36 sheep holdings), Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (11 cattle, 10 sheep holdings, 1 goat holding), Saarland (1 cattle holding, 4 sheep, 2 goat holdings) and Berlin (1 sheep holding).

FLI

link to updated map

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Schmallenberg virus : new Akabane-like virus in cattle, sheep and goats in Europe

Austria: Schmallenberg virus confirmed in malformed calves

oct 8, 2012

After confirmation of Schmallenberg virus in cattle via serological tests , today AGES confirmed the presence of SBV in aborted calves.

Samples were send to the FLI in Germany, which confirmed the testresults.

ERSTELLT: 08.10.2012

Nachweis von Schmallenberg-Virus in ?sterreichischen Tierbest?nden

Nach dem Erstnachweis von Infektionen mit dem Schmallenberg Virus (SBV) in ?sterreichs Tierbest?nden Anfang September konnte im Rahmen von AGES-Untersuchungen bei Rinderaborten nun auch SBV nachgewiesen werden.

Weitere Untersuchungen der AGES belegen, dass im Laufe der letzten August- und ersten September-Wochen alle Bundesl?nder von der Infektion durch das von Gnitzen (Culicoides spp.) ?bertragene Schmallenberg-Virus betroffen waren.

Nach einem Treffen der Veterin?rbeh?rden und den betroffenen Verkehrskreisen Ende September wurden weitere Verdachtsproben von klinisch auff?lligen und nicht-auff?lligen Tieren an die AGES ?bermittelt sowie retrospektiv asservierte Routine-Proben von der AGES am Veterin?rmedizinischen Institut in M?dling untersucht.

Die ersten positiven Proben wurden zur Best?tigung an das deutsche Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI - Bundesforschungsinstitut f?r Tiergesundheit), wo das neuartige Virus erstmals in Europa nachgewiesen werden konnte, gesendet.

Das FLI best?tigte jetzt die ?sterreichischen Ergebnisse.

AGES

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Schmallenberg virus : new Akabane-like virus in cattle, sheep and goats in Europe

Vigilance Urged as Schmallenberg Virus Shifts North to put Scotland at Risk

Article date: 09 October 2012

Scottish livestock producers are on high alert after Defra surveillance for Schmallenberg virus (SBV) has revealed its presence in the north of England.

SBV, first identified as a new virus on German and Dutch farms, spread via midges throughout parts of Europe and southern England last year. It causes relatively mild conditions in cattle and sheep but where infection takes place during the early stage of pregnancy, it can result in congenital disorders of lambs and calves, stillbirths and abortions.

Cases have been reported in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Luxembourg, Denmark, Switzerland and the UK with the virus now being found in many parts of England and Wales.

DEFRA reported this week that positive samples have now been found on farms in North Yorkshire and Northumberland. There is currently no data for Scotland but the reality is the southern regions of Scotland are now at risk from SBV.

More: NFU Scotland

Farmers Guardian

Location of Northumberland---Location of North Yorkshire

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Schmallenberg virus : new Akabane-like virus in cattle, sheep and goats in Europe

computertranslation

Schmallenberg virus detected all over Denmark

october 11, 2012

National Veterinary Institute studies of cattle and midges shows that the Schmallenberg virus is widespread throughout Denmark. It may mean more deformed calves in the spring.

In August and September, the National Veterinary Institute in agreement with the Food & Drug Administration captured small mosquitoes called midges in four locations in Denmark - Vestsjaelland and by Skjern, London and Limfjord in Jutland. Found Schmallenberg virus in midges from all four sites and throughout this period.

And it may have consequences for spring. If midges bite the mothers while they are pregnant, it may in fact result in malformed offspring.

"Our analysis suggests that a large part of midges in Denmark is infected, and as many cows are pregnant now, currently spreading Schmallenberg virus will result in malformed calves in the spring," says Lasse Dam Rasmussen, senior researcher at Section of Virology at the National Veterinary Institute.

The risk of malformed lambs and kids less as sheep and goats in Denmark are mostly not pregnant at this time of year. Midges are tested for viral RNA by PCR technique.


Infected cattle
In addition to the findings of midges have National Veterinary Institute since May found antibodies to Schmallenberg virus in one herd in Zealand, two cattle herds in Midtfyn and 18 cattle herds in Jutland in the area between Skjern and the German border. A total of 54 animals tested positive for antibodies to Schmallenberg virus, of which 46 are detected within the last month.

The cattle have been tested serologically for exports or because of disease symptoms in the herd. The antibodies show that the animals have been infected with the virus this year or last year.

More: DTU

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Schmallenberg virus : new Akabane-like virus in cattle, sheep and goats in Europe

Research: Bluetongue type 8 and Schmallenberg virus spread by the same types of midges.


Promed moderator:

"the same 3 species of culicoides midges which had carried BTV-8 are responsible for the spread of SBV since the summer of 2011, within and beyond the territories which had been affected during 2006-2008 by BTV-8".

"The enigmatic route by which both viruses initially reached their European launch base in Benelux and Germany, remains to be unraveled".

Detection of Schmallenberg virus in different Culicoides spp. by real-time RT-PCR

1 OCT 2012

Summary

To identify possible vectors of Schmallenberg virus (SBV), we tested pools containing heads of biting midges (Culicoides) that were caught during the summer and early autumn of 2011 at several places in Belgium by real-time RT-PCR. Pools of heads originating from following species: C. obsoletus complex, C. dewulfi and C. chiopterus were found positive, strongly indicating that these species are relevant vectors for SBV.

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/1...12000/abstract

ProMED

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Schmallenberg virus : new Akabane-like virus in cattle, sheep and goats in Europe

England: update on acute Schmallenberg virus disease in cattle


oct 11, 2012

Enhanced surveillance recently introduced by the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) and the Scottish Agricultural College has led to the detection of evidence of acute Schmallenberg virus (SBV) disease in adult dairy cattle at nineteen premises in England.

Cattle affected by acute SBV may develop signs such as a transient drop in milk yield, fever and diarrhoea. These signs in adult cattle are short-lived and the disease is not fatal; farmers and veterinarians should be aware that other agents of disease as well as SBV may cause these signs. Adult cattle may also be infected with SBV without showing any clinical signs. Following infection, it is believed that animals become immune and female animals that develop immunity before they become pregnant are unlikely to give birth to affected offspring. Female ruminants infected during pregnancy may give birth to malformed offspring.

County-Number of premises

Berkshire 1

Cheshire 2

Cornwall 1

Derbyshire 1

Devon 3

Dorset 1

Leicestershire and Rutland 2

North Yorkshire 1

Oxfordshire 1

Somerset excl North 1

Staffordshire 1

Warwickshire 1

West Yorkshire 1

Worcestershire 2


AHVLA

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Schmallenberg virus : new Akabane-like virus in cattle, sheep and goats in Europe

Germany: current Information on Schmallenberg virus

last updated October 9, 2012

As of 21 May case numbers and map will be updated weekly.

In Germany animals from 1853 holdings have been tested positive for Schmallenberg virus so far.

The cases occurred in 932 cattle holdings, 873 sheep holdings and 48 goat holdings.

Affected federal states are North Rhine-Westphalia (267 cattle, 273 sheep, 13 goat holdings), Lower Saxony (226 cattle, 143 sheep, 6 goat holdings), Hesse (121 cattle, 137 sheep holdings, 9 goat holdings), Schleswig-Holstein (107 cattle, 101 sheep holdings, 1 goat holding), Rhineland-Palatinate (1 Bison holding, 50 cattle, 43 sheep, 5 goat holdings), Baden-Wuerttemberg (27 cattle, 25 sheep, 6 goat holdings), Brandenburg (24 cattle, 21 sheep holdings), Thuringia (28 cattle, 31 sheep, 2 goat holdings), Saxony-Anhalt (18 cattle, 23 sheep, 2 goat holdings), Hamburg (2 cattle, 6 sheep holdings), Bavaria (41 cattle, 20 sheep holdings, 1 goat holding), Saxony (8 cattle holding, 36 sheep holdings), Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (11 cattle, 10 sheep holdings, 1 goat holding), Saarland (1 cattle holding, 4 sheep, 2 goat holdings) and Berlin (1 sheep holding).

FLI

Link to map, updated oct 9 2012

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Schmallenberg virus : new Akabane-like virus in cattle, sheep and goats in Europe

UK: Schmallenberg virus (SBV) surveillance report sheep survey samples

Research by scientists at the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) indicates that Schmallenberg virus (SBV) has spread during the 2012 active midge season to cover previously unaffected areas, including parts of northern England and Wales.

Samples from sheep in counties where SBV had not been detected were tested for antibodies, which demonstrate that the animal had previously been infected.

Antibodies were found in animals at farms in Northumberland, North Yorkshire, Shropshire, Carmarthenshire and Powys and the survey results are compatible with more extensive exposure in other counties in these regions.

Simon Hall Veterinary Director at AHVLA said:

“These findings indicate that Schmallenberg virus has spread to previously unaffected areas during this year’s active midge season. When infection occurs in animals that are not pregnant, the impact is very limited and protects against SBV affecting future offspring. And as we saw in 2012 the overall impact on British farms in relatively limited, although I recognise the concern it causes for farmers whose livestock are affected. AHVLA will continue to monitor the spread of the disease and provide information to help farmers make informed business decisions.”

Defra/Ahvla

published: 16 October 2012

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Schmallenberg virus : new Akabane-like virus in cattle, sheep and goats in Europe

UK: Schmallenberg virus detected in Lancashire

The Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) has found evidence of Schmallenberg virus [SBV] in a malformed calf from a cattle herd in Lancashire.

This is the first case of SBV to be reported in the county and indicates that Schmallenberg virus was present early in 2012 because damage to a calf follows infection early in pregnancy.

Page published: 16 October 2012

AHVLA

[Gert van der Hoek]

Finland: antibodies of Schmallenberg virus detected on the ?land Islands

Finland: antibodies against Schmallenberg virus detected on the Åland Islands

17.10.2012 12:04

Antibodies against the Schmallenberg virus have been detected in cattle on the Åland Islands. The disease is not transmitted to humans and will not give rise to measures by the authorities, and any treatment can be agreed on with the local veterinarian.

The studied samples were obtained in virus disease monitoring on cattle at the end of September. The cattle were born on the Åland Islands, and the discovery of antibodies indicates that the cattle had been infected with the virus at some stage. The virus may have arrived on the Åland Islands along with midges carrying the virus or with imported ruminants.

...................

Evira is studying samples taken from ruminants sent for tests due to cases of premature calving and from imported ruminants for the Schmallenberg virus or its antibodies.

Moreover, samples taken from cattle included in the virus disease monitoring programme in the coastal areas of Southern and South-Western Finland and the Åland Islands will also be tested for antibodies of the Schmallenberg virus.

More: Evira



Location of Åland Islands

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Schmallenberg virus : new Akabane-like virus in cattle, sheep and goats in Europe

WEDNESDAY 17 OCTOBER 2012

Schmallenberg found in Scotland

Alison Mann

SCHMALLENBERG HAS been found in northern Scotland after a tup brought in from Shropshire tested positive for the disease.

Following this announcement, NFUS is advising livestock keepers to be vigilant for the disease.

SRUC will test contact animals although, given the recent cold weather, it is unlikely that the disease will have become established in the area.

It is just over a week since Defra reported positive SBV samples on farms in North Yorkshire and Northumberland, prompting NFUS to advise Scottish livestock producers importing stock from SBV-risk areas to take up NFUS, the Scottish Government and SRUC's scheme to screen animals for the virus.
NFUS President, Borders livestock farmer and vet Nigel Miller said: "The tup's owner is to be commended for conducting the test and the event underlines the need for all livestock farmers importing stock from SBV-risk areas to test animals for the disease.

"There is no structured 'sentinel' surveillance in northern England or Scotland and it is therefore possible that the disease is already circulating in the south of Scotland. As midges and other vectors are likely to be active for at least another three weeks, we are advising all our members to speak to their vet if they are concerned about their livestock.

"A vaccine is being developed, which must undergo trials to demonstrate its safety. The vaccine may be available next year, which is when it would be most useful in Scotland. Luckily, it appears that livestock develop immunity to Schmallenberg relatively quickly."

Brian Hosie, Group Manager SAC Consulting Veterinary Services, a Division of SRUC, Scotland's Rural College, said: "This shows the importance and value of post-movement testing and farmers should take advantage of the NFUS-supported testing scheme. I would also commend the farmer for his responsible approach in making the proper checks, we cannot afford to drop our guard against the threat of disease."

The Scottish Farmer