Schmallenberg virus in Dutch dairy herds: Potential risk factors for high within-herd seroprevalence and malformations in calves, and its impact on productivity

Veldhuis, Anouk; Dijken, S. Carp-van; Wuijckhuise, L. van; Witteveen, G.; Schaik, G. van

doi:10.1016/j.vetmic.2013.11.021

Cited by 32 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…Veldhuis et al . () found that cattle herds that were grazed in 2011 had increased odds of a high seroprevalence for SBV compared to cattle herds that were kept indoors. Moreover, when animals were grazed in 2011, the odds of malformations in newborn calves tended to be 2.6 times higher compared to herds in which cattle was kept indoors.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seroprevalence of Schmallenberg virus infection in sheep and goats flocks in Germany, 2012–2013

Helmer

Eibach

Humann-Ziehank

et al. 2016

Veterinary Medicine & Sci

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Summary Schmallenberg virus (SBV) is a member of the family Bunyaviridae and mainly affects ruminants. It is transmitted by biting midges, first and foremost Culicoides spp., and causes congenital malformations reflected in arthrogryposis–hydranencephaly (AH) syndrome. The aim of this study was to collect data on the emergence of SBV as a new arthropod‐borne disease introduced into Europe in 2011. Germany was located in the core region of the 2011/2012 epidemic. Following two seroprevalence studies in the north‐west of Germany in 2012, this study focused on the epidemiology and distribution of SBV throughout 130 small ruminant flocks in the whole country. Blood samples were obtained of 30 animals per flock and a SBV‐specific questionnaire was used to collect operating data of the farms. The median within‐herd seroprevalence for all 130 flocks tested was 53.3% with a total range from 0% to 100%. The median within‐herd seroprevalence for goats was 30% [interquartile range (IQR): 40.3%] and 57% for sheep (IQR: 43.3%). Small ruminant flocks kept permanently indoors or housed overnight had a significantly lower seroprevalence than flocks kept permanently outdoors. In addition, this study revealed a significantly lower seroprevalence in the north‐east of Germany. These results show that small ruminants in Germany are still at risk of contracting new SBV infections following incomplete seroconversion of flocks especially in the north‐east of Germany. This might contribute to SBV becoming enzootic in central and northern Europe. Furthermore, the survey revealed that housing animals at least during mating and early pregnancy may reduce the risk of new SBV infections and may thus be an option to reduce losses as long as there is no licensed vaccine available on the German market.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seroprevalence of Schmallenberg virus infection in sheep and goats flocks in Germany, 2012–2013

Helmer

Eibach

Humann-Ziehank

et al. 2016

Veterinary Medicine & Sci

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“…Vertical transmission within hosts has been observed but is not considered important in disease spread15. The reliance on midge vectors for disease transmission means that disease spread is limited seasonally by the duration of the adult vector season16.…”

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confidence: 99%

Impact of temperature, feeding preference and vaccination on Schmallenberg virus transmission in Scotland

Bessell

Auty

Searle

et al. 2014

Sci Rep

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First identified in 2011, Schmallenberg virus (SBV) is principally transmitted by Culicoides midges and affects ruminants. Clinical presentation is typified by foetal abnormalities, but despite very high infection rates, relatively few animals present with clinical signs. In this paper we further develop a previously published stochastic mathematical model of SBV spread to investigate the optimal deployment of a vaccine for SBV in Scotland, a country that has experienced only sporadic and isolated cases of SBV. We consider the use of the vaccine under different temperatures and explore the effects of a vector preference for feeding on cattle. We demonstrate that vaccine impact is optimised by targeting it at the high risk areas in the south of Scotland, or vaccinating only cattle. At higher than average temperatures, and hence increased transmission potential, the relative impact of vaccination is considerably enhanced. Vaccine impact is also enhanced if vectors feed preferentially on cattle. These findings are of considerable importance when planning control strategies for SBV and also have important implications for management of other arboviruses such as Bluetongue virus. Environmental determinants and feeding preferences should be researched further to inform development of effective control strategies.

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“…The difficulties encountered for assigning herds into the case and control groups, which were also faced in other studies (EFSA, , Veldhuis et al., ), stress the importance of having a good definition of a case (herd) for emerging diseases.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Belgium, only two limited preliminary surveys studied the impact of SBV in cattle and sheep populations (Martinelle et al., ; Saegerman et al., ). In the Netherlands, a case–control survey identified grazing as possible risk factor for SBV (Veldhuis et al., ). Finally, Veldhuis et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Schmallenberg Virus in Belgium: Estimation of Impact in Cattle and Sheep Herds

Poskin

Meroc

Behaeghel

et al. 2015

Transbound Emerg Dis

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Schmallenberg virus (SBV) emerged during summer 2011. SBV induced an unspecific syndrome in cattle and congenital signs (abortions, stillbirths and malformations) in domestic ruminants. To study the impact of SBV in Belgium, a phone survey was conducted upon September 2012. Hereto two groups of cattle farmers (A and B) and two groups of sheep farmers (C and D) were randomly selected. Farms from groups A (n = 53) and C (n = 42) received SBV-positive result at RT-PCR in the Belgian National Reference Laboratory (NRL). Farms from groups B (n = 29) and D (n = 44) never sent suspected samples to NRL for SBV analysis but were however presumed seropositive for SBV after the survey. Questionnaires related to reproduction parameters and clinical signs observed in newborn and adult animals were designed and addressed to farmers. As calculated on a basis of farmers' observations, 4% of calves in group A and 0.5% in group B were reported aborted, stillborn or deformed due to SBV in 2011-2012. The impact as observed by sheep farmers was substantially higher with 19% of lambs in group C and 11% in group D that were reported aborted, stillborn or deformed due to SBV in 2011-2012. Interestingly, abortions or stillbirths were not clear consequences of SBV outbreak in cattle farms, and the birth of a deformed animal was an essential condition to suspect SBV presence in cattle and sheep farms. This study contributes to a better knowledge of the impact of the SBV epidemic. The results suggest that SBV impacted Belgian herds mostly by the birth of deformed calves, stillborn lambs and deformed lambs. This work also demonstrates that the birth of a deformed calf or lamb was a trigger for the farmer to suspect the presence of SBV and send samples to NRL for further analyses.

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Schmallenberg virus in Dutch dairy herds: Potential risk factors for high within-herd seroprevalence and malformations in calves, and its impact on productivity

Cited by 32 publications

References 15 publications

Seroprevalence of Schmallenberg virus infection in sheep and goats flocks in Germany, 2012–2013

Seroprevalence of Schmallenberg virus infection in sheep and goats flocks in Germany, 2012–2013

Impact of temperature, feeding preference and vaccination on Schmallenberg virus transmission in Scotland

Schmallenberg Virus in Belgium: Estimation of Impact in Cattle and Sheep Herds

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