
Schmallenberg virus
Schmallenberg virus (SBV) causes congenital malformations and stillbirths in cattle, sheep, goats, bison and possibly camelids. Wageningen Bioveterinary Research conducts research on this disease.
The virus was first characterised in 2011 in Germany from samples from diseased dairy cattle. The virus was named after Schmallenberg, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, from where the first definitive sample was derived. Later on, after Germany, the virus was detected throughout Europe and surrounding countries.
Negligible risk for humans
Based on the current available information, experts concluded that the risk for human health is negligible.
Transmission
The viraemic period of Schmallenberg virus is short and the virus is transmitted by biting midges, with apparent similarity to the vector transmission of bluetongue virus.
The risk of disease spread from trade in meat and milk is negligible. For semen, embryos and live animals research institutes have made recommendations for safe trade.
Diagnosis of Schmallenberg
Experimental infection in cattle and sheep showed no clinical signs or mild symptoms at 3 to 5 days post-inoculation with an incubation period of between 1 and 4 days and viraemia lasting for 1 to 5 days.
Since early December 2011, congenital malformations have been reported in newborn lambs in countries in Northwest Europe, and SBV was detected in and isolated from the brain tissue. Stillbirth and congenital malformations with PCR positive results have also been reported now throughout Europe and surrounding countries.
Clinical signs
Manifestation of clinical signs varies by species: bovine adults have shown a mild form of acute disease during the vector season, congenital malformations have affected more species of ruminants, in particular sheep and goat. From some sheep and cow farms diarrhea was also reported.
Publications
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Visualizing the ribonucleoprotein content of single bunyavirus virions reveals more efficient genome packaging in the arthropod host
Communications Biology 4 (2021)1. - ISSN 2399-3642 -
Development and validation of SYBR Green- and probe-based reverse-transcription real-time PCR assays for detection of the S and M segments of Schmallenberg virus
Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation 32 (2020)5. - ISSN 1040-6387 - p. 710 - 717. -
Multimeric single-domain antibody complexes protect against bunyavirus infections
eLife 9 (2020). - ISSN 2050-084X -
Reverse genetics system for shuni virus, an emerging orthobunyavirus with zoonotic potential
Viruses 12 (2020)4. - ISSN 1999-4915 -
Serological Evidence for Schmallenberg Virus Infection in Sheep of Portugal 2014
Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases 16 (2016)1. - ISSN 1530-3667 - p. 63 - 65. -
Circulation of Schmallenberg virus in Turkey, 2013
Turkish Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences 40 (2016)2. - ISSN 1300-0128 - p. 175 - 180. -
Detection of serum neutralizing antibodies to Simbu sero-group viruses in cattle in Tanzania
BMC Veterinary Research 11 (2015). - ISSN 1746-6148 - 9 p. -
A spatiotemporal model to assess the introduction risk of African horse sickness by import of animals and vectors in France
BMC Veterinary Research 11 (2015)1. - ISSN 1746-6148 -
European interlaboratory comparison of Schmallenberg virus (SBV) real-time RT-PCR detection in experimental and field samples: The method of extraction is critical for SBV RNA detection in semen
Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation 27 (2015)4. - ISSN 1040-6387 - p. 422 - 430. -
Schmallenberg virus infection
Revue scientifique et technique / Office International des Epizooties 34 (2015)2. - ISSN 0253-1933 - p. 363 - 373.