Schmallenberg virus - Discussion , Questions, Opinion

[sharon sanders]

I want to ask some questions about this new disease:

1) What happens to the adult animals after they are diagnosed with SV? Are they culled? Do they seem to recover? If so, is their milk production back to normal volumes?

2) Why is this disease still spreading? Isn't the cold winter killing all the insects that might transmit this disease at this time?

3) Do we know with any certainty if mosquitoes can transmit this virus?

4) Have any signs of this disease been seen in horses? Seems most other hooved farm animals are susceptible.

Thanks in advance!

Schmallenberg virus forum link:

http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=2830

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Schmallenberg virus - Discussion , Questions, Opinion

Being no expert, I'll try to respond these questions, based on what I have read:

1. The animals recover and develop immunity. Dr. Ruth Watkins, retired virologist and current sheepfarmer says: keep the infected animals for breeding next year. They will produce healthy offspring.

Milk production (cows) is restored.

We don't know if the immunity will last for life. Young animals always will be susceptible.

2. This disease is not spreading at the moment. The disease is increasingly discovered. No bloodtest available, it can be discovered with lambing, calving.

The animals were infected last year, the disease was spreading probably from august to november.

3. Looking at similar viruses it is assumed midges (small mosquito) spread the virus from one infected animal to another. We don't know yet for sure. Mosquito's could be a vector too.

4. Horses and other animals: infections have not been reported. Looking at similar akabane-like viruses effects can be seen in sheep, goats and cows. Horses or deer may be infected, but asymptomatic, no malformed offspring. Pigs don't seem to be susceptible. Human infection was never reported.

Deer could play a role in spreading the virus. Much research must be done to know more.

[Emily]

Re: Schmallenberg virus - Discussion , Questions, Opinion

That's good news that sheep can recover with immunity. There seems to be a lot of concern about this expressed in the The Telegraph article. There are 498 comments right now.