Reemerging Schmallenberg Virus Infections, Germany, 2012

Epidemiology, molecular virology and diagnostics of Schmallenberg virus, an emerging orthobunyavirus in Europe

“…In May 2012, acute SBV infections were detected in cattle in south west France in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques territorial division [11], indicating that SBV was able to re-circulate after the winter period. Similar conclusions were also made after the detection of the virus in the United Kingdom in newborn lambs born in May and June 2012 [12,13] and in Germany in cattle, sheep and goat holdings sampled in 2012 [14]. …”

“…Cases of acute SBV infection were recorded following the start of the 2012 vector season in France, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Germany and Italy [11-14,17,29,31]. It is not yet known how SBV is able to persist despite the winter season.…”

Schmallenberg virus: on its way out or due for a comeback?

“…Seroprevalence studies showed that the majority of domestic ruminants became infected in SBV-affected countries (Méroc and others 2013, 2014, Wernike and others 2014). In 2012, SBV spread further over Europe and evidence for renewed but lower levels of SBV circulation in countries affected in 2011 was found (Conraths and others 2013, Afonso and others 2014, De Regge and others 2014). From spring 2013 onwards, the number of reported and confirmed cases dropped drastically, indicating that the peak of the first emergence was over (Afonso and others 2014) and that further extensive circulation of the virus was probably hindered by the high level of induced population immunity.…”

A review on Schmallenberg virus infection: a newly emerging disease of cattle, sheep and goats

“…Initial epidemiological analyses in Germany showed that the spatial density of outbreaks in sheep holdings was statistically significantly associated with the population density of sheep, with transplacental infections taking place since mid-September 2012 (Conraths et al 2012). The seasonal peak of the transplacental SBV infections coincided with the peaks of the BTV-8 infections observed in 2006 and 2007 as well as with the maximum levels of BTV-8-infected biting midges detected in 2007.…”