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

[Gert van der Hoek]

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

From European CDC

23 dec 2011

Risk assessment: New Orthobunyavirus isolated from infected cattle and small livestock ─ potential implications for human health

ABSTRACT

Main conclusions and recommendations:

In early November 2011, a new orthobunyavirus, provisionally named the Schmallenberg virus, was detected by metagenomic analysis and virus isolation from infected cattle in Germany. Similar findings have been reported from the Netherlands, where lambs have also been infected with the same virus in utero, resulting in congenital malformations.

Based on current evidence, it is not possible to confirm or exclude a causal relationship between detection of the new orthobunyavirus and the observed clinical symptoms in cattle and small livestock. Epidemiological, immunological and microbiological investigations are ongoing in Germany and the Netherlands.
According to health authorities in Germany and the Netherlands, further cases in cattle and small livestock can be expected.

Diagnostic capacity is currently limited to a real-time RT-PCR, which has to be further validated. Improved diagnostic methods, including serology, will facilitate identification of newly-affected holdings and geographic areas.
Previously, genetically similar orthobunyaviruses have not caused disease in humans. It is therefore unlikely that this virus will cause disease in humans, but it cannot be excluded at this stage.

Close collaboration between animal and human health services is necessary to ensure rapid detection of any change in the epidemiology of animals and humans. In particular, the health of farmers and veterinarians in close contact with potentially infected animals should be carefully monitored.

Full report - PDF

[Gert van der Hoek]

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

Schmallenberg (SBV) in the Netherlands - Update jan 23


Malformed calves found on 136 holdings - SBV confirmed 2

Without a serological test it is not easy to detect SBV in cattle/calves.
It will take a few more months to develop the test.


Malformed lambs from sheep found on 134 holdings - SBV confirmed 72


Malformed lambs from goats found on 13 holdings - SBV confirmed 2

More details and map via : http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/sho...d.php?t=176863

Source VWA

[Gert van der Hoek]

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

"Schmallenberg no risk for humans, horses, cats and dogs"

jan 24 2012

It is widely accepted among European experts in the affected countries: Schmallenberg virus is an "Akabane-like" virus.

New for Europe, not new for the world. The related disease is well documented.

The best fact sheet I know of, is from the Center for Foodsecurity & Public Health, Iowa State University: Akabane Disease

Some snips:

Species Affected

Symptomatic infections have been seen only in cattle, sheep and goats. Wild ruminants can be infected with Akabane virus; congenital defects might occur in these species, but there are no reported cases in the literature.

Antibodies to Akabane virus have also been found in horses, donkeys, buffalo, deer and camels. One isolate (NT-14) was reported to be widespread among pigs in Taiwan. Mice and hamsters can be infected experimentally.

Your horse may be infected, but will not fall ill, no symptoms, no malformed foal. Also other animals like pigs: may be infected, no harm for the piglets.

Public Health

Human infections with Akabane virus have not been reported.

Full document - PDF

In this life we don't have a 100% guarantee on anything, so the European CDC wrote in their riskassessment: we cannot exclude in this stage the virus can cause disease in humans, however it is very unlikely.

[Gert van der Hoek]

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

OIE-report : Schmallenberg virus, United Kingdom

LINK

Information received on 24/01/2012 from Dr Nigel Gibbens, Chief Veterinary Officer, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, LONDON, United Kingdom

- 24 Cases on 4 Locations

[Gert van der Hoek]

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

Schmallenberg virus found in two Dutch calves

Posted on Jan 24, 2012

For the first time in the Netherlands, the Schmallenberg virus has been detected in calves. The virus has to date (23 januari 2012) been found in sheep (72 cases) and goats (2 cases).

It was expected that calves would also be affected by the virus. The animals were infected at the same time as the sheep and the goats, although the symptoms of the virus only became apparent later due to the longer gestation period of bovine animals compared to sheep and goats and because multiple lambs are born on sheep farms, while single calves are normally born on cattle farms. No additional measures are required.

The Ministry reported these findings today to neighbouring countries and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). Henk Bleker, Minister for Agriculture and Foreign Trade raised the issue at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Brussels.

So far reports have been received from 283 farms of symptoms that could indicate infection with the Schmallenberg virus. These reports have been received from 134 sheep farms, 136 cattle farms and 13 goat farms. Tests have been carried out at 107 sheep farms, 91 cattle farms, and 9 goat farms, and the disease has since been confirmed at 72 sheep farms, 2 cattle farms and 2 goat farms. The virus has therefore been confirmed at 76 of the 283 farms, and has not been found at 131 farms. Tests are continuing at the other 76 farms.

The Russian Federation has suspended the import of sheep and goats and products derived from these animals. Mexico has suspended the import of sperm and embryos from sheep, goats and bovine animals. Argentina and China have requested more information about the virus and the situation in the Netherlands, and have been informed in writing. Experts from Russia, Germany, the Netherlands and the European Commission are scheduled to discuss the issue shortly.

DutchDailyNews

[Gert van der Hoek]

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

First cases of Schmallenberg virus confirmed in France

jan 26 2012

Today French veterinairian authorities confirmed the first cases of Schmallenberg virus in France. The virus was found in sheep in 2 departments in the north of France, bordering Belgium.

More suspected cases are being tested.

publié le 26/01/2012

Premiers cas français de la maladie due au virus de Schmallenberg

L'agence nationale de sécurité sanitaire de l'alimentation, de l'environnement et du travail vient de mettre en évidence ce virus, non transmissible à l’homme, sur des prélèvements issus d'un élevage ovin du département de la Moselle et en Meurthe-et-Moselle.



"Ce sont les premiers cas français de la maladie due au virus de Schmallenberg identifiés en Moselle et en Meurthe-et-Moselle". La Direction Générale de l’Alimentation (DGAL) confirme, dans un communiqué, la détection en France du virus de Schmallenberg. L'agence nationale de sécurité sanitaire de l'alimentation, de l'environnement et du travail (Anses, laboratoire de Maisons-Alfort) vient en effet de mettre en évidence ce virus sur des prélèvements issus d'un élevage ovin du département de la Moselle et en Meurthe-et-Moselle.
A ce jour, l’Allemagne, la Belgique, les Pays-Bas et le Royaume-Uni ont déclaré quelques cas. En France, d’autres suspicions sont en cours d’analyse.

[Gert van der Hoek]

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

From Defra

Advice to pregnant women to avoid close contact with animals that are giving birth

Pregnant women should avoid close contact with animals that are giving birth, the Government advised today.

The Department of Health, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and the Health and Safety Executive have issued annual advice for a number of years that pregnant women who come into close contact with sheep during lambing may risk their own health, and that of their unborn child, from infections that can occur in some ewes.

Although the number of human pregnancies affected by contact with an infected animal is extremely small, it is important that pregnant women are aware of the potential risks and take appropriate precautions.

It is also important to note that these risks are not only confined to the spring (when the majority of lambs are born), nor are the risks only associated with sheep: cows and goats that have recently given birth can also carry similar infections.

Read more

[jflorida]

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

CDC - EID Journal Ahead of Print / In Press - Volume 18, Number 3?March 2012

Novel Orthobunyavirus in Cattle, Europe, 2011 - January 26, 2012 [ http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/ahead-of-pr...05_article.htm ]

[Gert van der Hoek]

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

31 January 2012 – Schmallenberg virus: further UK testing results

We have finished testing the latest samples received as a result of enhanced surveillance for this new disease. Schmallenberg Virus has now been identified in 11 submissions across the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Kent and East Sussex.

These counties are in the area already identified as potentially at risk from infected midges being blown across the Channel from affected areas in Europe. We, therefore, suspect this to be the most likely cause of transmission.

As surveillance continues and the lambing season progress we would expect further cases.



County Submissions with confirmed infection – (Figures correct for week ending 25 Jan 2012)

DEFRA

[Gert van der Hoek]

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

Schmallenberg-virus in Europe



Based on FAO-Empres. The latest outbreaks don't come back yet in the map, regular updates will follow.

[Gert van der Hoek]

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

Netherlands: malformed calves outnumber malformed lambs

The Schmallenberg-virus often is - or was - regarded as a disease for sheep.
Sheep were the first to produce malformed offspring in a number of cases.

However: in the Netherlands the number of reports from holdings with malformed calves is outnumbering the sheepfarms:
on january 30 a total of 349 reports: 188 regarding cattle and 144 regarding sheep.

At the same time we see a big difference in the number of confirmed cases/holdings : 2 in calves, 81 in lambs.
Experts assume the virus can hardly be found in calves, because cows carry longer than sheep.

At this moment the only way to confirm a Schmallenberg-case, is to find the virus via PCR-test.
A serological ELISA-test is being developed. In a few months the test will be available.

It is then we will know the true magnitude of the Schmallenberg epidemic.

Update VWA - Peildatum 30 januari 12.00

Total number of reports, suspected SBV: 349 - Confirmed 87

Cattle : 188

Virus confirmed : 2
Not confirmed : 136
In the pipeline : 50

Sheep : 144

Virus confirmed : 81
Not confirmed : 46
In the pipeline : 17


Goats : 17

Virus confirmed : 4
Not confirmed : 9
In the pipeline : 4




Link to map - jan 30 2012

.

[Gert van der Hoek]

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

Schmallenberg-virus: total number of reported holdings with SBV in Europe is 451

february 2, 2012

Germany - 240

Netherlands - 91

Belgium - 80

France - 29

United Kingdom - 11

Most confirmations are from sheepfarms. However the number of reports on malformed calves keeps on rising.

The virus is hard to confirm in calves. Until now there is no test available for antibodies. The labs are working fast: a new ELISA-test is expected to be ready in a few weeks.

Dozens of samples still are in the pipeline, being tested.


Source: http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/sho...d.php?t=180908

[Gert van der Hoek]

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

Another Schmallenberg ?deformed lamb disease? case found in East Anglia

Saturday, February 4, 2012

In total, 11 cases of Schmallenberg virus (SBV), three in Norfolk and four in Suffolk, have been offically confirmed. Vets at the Westover?s practice have confirmed a new case.

Former senior partner, Graham Duncanson briefed about 30 flock owners at Westover?s large animal centre at Manor Farm, Hainford, near Aylsham, about sheep topics.

A colleague, Helen Gibb alerted the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratory Agency to a possible case of SBV last month. The shepherd, who has 200 early lambing ewes, had seen several lambs born with deformed limbs and told his vet.

Samples were sent to the AHVLA?s Bury St Edmunds centre for detailed analysis at Weybridge against the reference samples from Europe.

All cases in England to date have involved sheep flocks although SBV disease, which was identified in November last year in calves in northern Germany, hence the name, infects ruminants, cattle and goats.

It has also been found in dairy and beef cattle in Germany. and 150 sheep flocks. In Holland and Belgium, ewes seem to be susceptible and deformed lambs have been born but not survived. In Holland, two-thirds of sheep tested for SBV were positive.

It has also been found in France as far as Caen in Normandy, which indicates that flocks on the south coast could have been infected.

This virus seems to be spread by midges. It is likely the mild and warm conditions early last autumn enabled newly-pregnant ewes to be bitten.

Although vets cannot be certain, more evidence suggests that SBV does not infect all pregnant ewes.


A Westover partner, Tom Hume, said between 10 and 25pc of animals have been infected, which have produced deformed lambs.

It was difficult to build up a complete picture. He knew some ewes had produced a deformed (dead) lamb and a normal one. The live lamb and ewe were not found to SBV infected. This is quite different from bluetongue virus, where animals were ?infected? and capable of spreading infection if later bitten by a midge, which then infected another sheep.

Mortality may be higher because a deformed lamb could block the birth canal, thus prevent other live births.

The human health risk is deemed as very low but farmers are advised to report symptoms to their vet although it is not notifiable.

SBV, which has been under investigation since August last year, can reduce yields and cause fever and diarrhoea in cattle.

The virus is a completely different type from Blue Tongue.

EADT24

[johannt]

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

From the Friedrich Loeffler Institut (6 February 2012)

In Germany animals from 314 holdings have been tested positiv for ‛Schmallenberg virus? so far.

The cases occurred in 8 cattle holdings, 294 sheep holdings and 12 goat holdings.

Affected federal states are North Rhine-Westphalia (5 cattle, 160 sheep, 6 goat holdings), Lower Saxony (1 cattle, 47 sheep, 2 goat holdings), Hesse (28 sheep holdings, 1 goat), Rhineland-Palatinate (1 Bison, 7 sheep holdings, 2 goat holdings), Baden-Wuerttemberg (1 goat), Brandenburg (5 sheep holdings), Thuringia (8 sheep holdings), Saxony-Anhalt (2 sheep holdings), Hamburg (2 sheep holdings), Bavaria (3 sheep holdings) and Saxony (3 sheep holdings).

Johann Tasker
www.johanntasker.co.uk

Twitter: @johanntasker

[Gert van der Hoek]

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

Welcome, johannt , thanks for participating.