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

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

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/showthread.php?t=180908

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

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

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

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

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

Welcome, johannt , thanks for participating.

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

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

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

Note: at this moment it is hard to confirm "Schmallenberg" in cattle. In a few weeks a serological test will be available. Than we can know the true extent of the spread of Schmallenberg.

In the Netherlands malformed calves outnumber malformed lambs.


From DEFRA, UK

Schmallenberg virus: updated 7 February 2012

On February 7 AHVLA released results from further testing which reveal the presence of Schmallenberg virus in a further 22 submissions, including the first positive case in a bovine in West Sussex.

There is also a first positive submission from a premises in Hertfordshire. All other positive cases were in counties where previous cases have occurred.

Figures correct for week ending 5 Feb 2012

County Submissions with confirm infection
(based on clinical signs and virus identification)

Norfolk - 11
Suffolk - 6
Essex - 2
Kent - 5
East Sussex - 7
Hertfordshire - 1
West Sussex - 1 - Cattle

Total 33

Previously, all of the GB cases of SBV infection had been diagnosed in sheep, but AHVLA has now identified SBV in a cattle sample from a farm in West Sussex. This is the first positive cattle sample in GB and additional tests are in progress on this sample. Other affected countries have detected the virus in cattle.

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

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

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

Dutch vet: "Schmallenberg on sheepfarms has peaked in the Netherlands"

7 februari 2012

A vet from the Dutch Animal Health Service said the Schmallenberg problems on sheepfarms have peaked.

The number of farms with lambing ewes is rising now. At the same time the daily number of reports of malformed lambs is stable, or is going down.

Schmallenberg over hoogtepunt heen

07-02-2012

Het Schmallenbergvirus is over zijn hoogtepunt heen. Dat zegt Piet Vellema van de Gezondheidsdienst voor Dieren. Hij baseert zich op het aantal nieuwe besmettingen.

Het aantal nieuwe meldingen van misvormde lammeren is stabiel en lijkt licht af te nemen. Het aantal bedrijven waar de lammerij is begonnen is daarentegen sinds december geleidelijk toegenomen. Op basis daarvan concludeert Vellema dat de problemen met Schmallenberg over het hoogtepunt heen zijn.

Op bedrijven die zich nu nog melden met problemen is een andere duidelijke tendens te zien: het percentage misvormde lammeren neemt sterk af. Op de bedrijven die zich de afgelopen anderhalve week hebben gemeld is het percentage afwijkende lammeren relatief laag.

De mededeling van de GD is goed nieuws voor schapenbedrijven waar de lammerij nog moet beginnen.

Het Schaap

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

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

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

Schmallenberg Virus

Germany: Current Information on ‛Schmallenberg virus’

last updated 7th February 2012

In Germany animals from 342 holdings have been tested positiv for ‛Schmallenberg virus’ so far.

The cases occurred in 10 cattle holdings, 317 sheep holdings and 15 goat holdings.

Affected federal states are North Rhine-Westphalia (5 cattle, 162 sheep, 6 goat holdings), Lower Saxony (1 cattle, 52 sheep, 2 goat holdings), Hesse (29 sheep holdings, 1 goat), Rhineland-Palatinate (1 Bison, 10 sheep, 2 goat holdings), Baden-Wuerttemberg (1 cattle, 2 sheep, 4 goat holdings), Brandenburg (7 sheep holdings), Thuringia (8 sheep holdings), Saxony-Anhalt (2 sheep holdings), Hamburg (1 cattle, 2 sheep holdings), Bavaria (4 sheep holdings) and Saxony (6 sheep holdings).

Link to map

FLI

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

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

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

Schmallenberg-virus in Europe

Laatste update: 7 februari 16:55

The total number of premises confirmed with SBV in Europe: 609


Cattle - 18

Sheep - 570

Goats - 21

source

 

[sharon sanders]

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

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

Welcome, johannt.

 

[Pathfinder]

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

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

Schmallenberg ?deformed lamb? disease found in cattle for the first time in the UK

Tuesday, February 7, 2012
12:39 PM

THE first case of Schmallenberg virus in UK cattle has been detected in one animal in West Sussex.

The illness, which has been dubbed ?deformed lamb disease?, has been now been found in 21 sheep, including six in Suffolk, two in Essex and 11 in Norfolk, but this is the first time it has been confirmed in cattle in the UK.

The Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency today released results from further testing which reveal the presence of Schmallenberg virus, which is not a notifiable disease, in a total of 22 animals. It confirmed the disease has been found in Hertfordshire for the first time. All other cases were in counties where the virus has already been found.

There have been five confirmed cases in Kent and seven in East Sussex.

The country?s first cases were found in two sheep flocks, two in Norfolk, one in Suffolk and another in East Sussex, in January.

Animal health experts believe the virus has spread from Europe through midges. It is possible that the mild and warm conditions early last autumn enabled newly-pregnant ewes to be bitten.

More...
http://www.eadt.co.uk/business/farm...cattle_for_the_first_time_in_the_uk_1_1201537

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

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

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

EFSA publishes report on likely scenarios for spread of ?Schmallenberg? virus in ruminants


8 February 2012

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published a preliminary analysis of the likely scenarios on how a new virus, referred to as the ?Schmallenberg? virus[1], could spread amongst animals in the coming months.

This report, which was discussed by the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCOFCAH) on 7 February will help inform the European Commission and EU Member States regarding the current and possible future situation in the EU.

The virus is assumed to belong to a vector-borne group of viruses transmitted by insects. The report highlights that further data are needed to monitor the presence of this recently reported virus and provides technical specifications for such data collection in all Member States.

EFSA

Link to full report - PDF

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

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

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

Presentations Schmallenberg-virus from 5 European countries

8 februari 2012

On februari 7 and 8 the European countries held their regular meeting on animal diseases, incl. the outbreak of the Schmallenberg-virus.

The virus hit 5 countries, they presented the current situation .

EFSA presented an update too.

Schmallenberg virus - EFSA
(link is fixed)

Schmallenberg virus in Belgium

Schmallenberg virus in France

Schmallenberg virus in Germany

Schmallenberg virus in the Netherlands

Schmallenberg virus in United Kingdom


.

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

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

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

Spread of Schmallenberg virus seems to resemble the outbreak of Bluetongue in 2006

1 feb 2012

The current outbreak of Schmallenberg virus (SBV) seems to resemble the sudden spread of a new type of "Bluetongue" (type 8) in 2006.

Out of the blue - from the same area: Netherlands, Germany and Belgium -the virus spread
to other parts of Western-Europe. Midges were the vector too. Like Bluetongue, SBV was discovered in august.

The red zone in the map shows the area which was most affected with Bluetongue, type 8. A light blue zone indicates some `spillover` to the
south of France and the north of Spain.

Thanks to vaccination Bluetongue was controlled.

Possibly the red zone will be an indication of the distribution of SBV?

Speculation of course, we will have to wait and see.

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

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

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

GERMANY

Current Information on ‛Schmallenberg virus’

last updated 9th February 2012

In Germany animals from 402 holdings have been tested positiv for ‛Schmallenberg virus’ so far.

The cases occurred in 10 cattle holdings, 374 sheep holdings and 18 goat holdings.

Affected federal states are North Rhine-Westphalia (5 cattle, 176 sheep, 6 goat holdings), Lower Saxony (1 cattle, 56 sheep, 2 goat holdings), Hesse (37 sheep holdings, 2 goat), Schleswig-Holstein (1 cattle, 42 sheep holdings), Rhineland-Palatinate (1 Bison, 20 sheep, 3 goat holdings), Baden-Wuerttemberg (1 cattle, 3 sheep, 4 goat holdings), Brandenburg (7 sheep holdings), Thuringia (9 sheep holdings), Saxony-Anhalt (4 sheep holdings), Hamburg (1 cattle, 4 sheep holdings), Bavaria (9 sheep holdings), Saxony (7 sheep holdings) and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (1 goat holding).

Link to map

FLI

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

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

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

Livestock virus in 98 Dutch farms

The Schmallenberg virus, which leads to deformities and stillborn animals among goats, sheep and cows, has been diagnosed at 98 Dutch farms.

In a letter to parliament, Deputy Agriculture Minister Henk Bleker writes that the virus has been diagnosed at 4 cattle farms, 89 sheep farms and 5 goat farms. Another 357 farms have reported symptoms which could indicate infections with the virus.

The National Institute for Public Health and the Environment says that, according to available data, that there is very little risk of humans becoming infected with the virus.

Expatica (edited/updated/corrected)

RIVM (= Dutch CDC) will perform a trial with healthy persons, to find out if humans can be infected with the Schmallenberg-virus.

Public Health
The Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (RIVM) has concluded that based on all available information, transmission of the virus to humans is highly unlikely. To identify human cases of the virus both a viral antibody test and a test to identify the virus itself have been developed. The RIVM is working on a proposal to test larger groups of people in order to assess whether exposure to the virus can lead to infection. A number of experts will meet next week to discuss this proposal, as well as the theoretical risk to humans and what research is required to reach a definitive conclusion on this matter.

http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showpost.php?p=441071&postcount=189

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

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

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

Schmallenberg-virus in Europe - 2012

GvdH/Flutrackers.com


This map is based on FAO-Empres data. The latest data are not available yet for the map. Regular updates will be published in this thread.

Schmallenberg-virus has been found in 5 countries untill now: United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany.

Note: in Germany SVB-cases are found near the borders of Denmark (north) and Poland (east).


Latest update: 9 februari 21.00


Total number of infected premises in Europe: 667

Cattle - 19

Sheep - 624

Goats - 24

Source

 

[Pathfinder]

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

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

Canadian Food Inspection Agency

Schmallenberg Virus in Europe

February 9, 2012: The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is closely monitoring the emergence of the Schmallenberg virus in ruminant livestock in Europe.

Based on what is known about this virus, and what we know about similar viruses, there does not appear to be any immediate danger to Canadian livestock. As well, there is no evidence to date that indicates the virus is associated with any human illness.

Canada does not allow live cattle, sheep or goats to be imported from Europe.

To allow for a harmonized response, the <ACRONYM title="Canadian Food Inspection Agency">CFIA</ACRONYM> is working with <ACRONYM title="United States">US</ACRONYM> officials to gather information and assess the situation. The <ACRONYM title="Canadian Food Inspection Agency">CFIA</ACRONYM> will also seek input from provincial and territorial governments and the livestock industry.

More information will be shared as it becomes available.

The Schmallenberg virus belongs to a group of viruses that is transmitted by vectors (that is, ticks, midges and biting flies). This makes direct animal-to-animal transmission unlikely. In Europe, it appears to be causing non-specific symptoms (fever, diarrhea, reduced milk yield, <ABBR title="et cetera">etc.</ABBR>) and birth defects in ruminants.

For more information on the Schmallenberg virus and the situation in Europe, visit the European Union?s website.

http://www.inspection.gc.ca/animals...lenberg-virus/eng/1328804118103/1328804210822
<!-- WCMS:CONTENT -->

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

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

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

Excellent summary of live Q & A by Mary Critchley:

February 10th 2012 ~ Some of the main points made on the FWi live forum last night

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

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

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

France: Schmallenberg virus confirmed in lambs of 94 premises

The Schmallenberg virus is confirmed in lambs of 94 premises in 18 departments in the northern part of France.

10 02 2012

Le virus de Schmallenberg identifié dans le Nord de la France sur des ovins

La présence du virus de Schmallenberg vient d’être confirmée sur des agneaux dans 21 nouvelles exploitations.

Au total ce sont 94 élevages qui sont donc touchés dans 18 départements essentiellement du Nord de la France (02, 08,10, 14, 50, 52, 54, 55, 57, 59, 60, 62, 67, 76, 80, 86, 87, 88).

Ce virus de la famille des orthobunyavirus, qui n’affecte que les ruminants, a été identifié pour la première fois au Pays-Bas et en Allemagne en novembre dernier. D’autres foyers ont depuis été recensés en Belgique et plus récemment au Royaume-Uni.

http://agriculture.gouv.fr/