Spread of Schmallenberg virus infections in the ruminants in Poland between 2012 and 2013

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of Schmallenberg virus (SBV) specific antibodies in ruminants from 13 Polish provinces, sampled between January 2010 and August 2013. A total number of 1813 serum samples from cattle, sheep, goats, mouflon, wild and farmed cervids, and European bison were tested by ELISA for viral nucleoprotein antibodies. First SBV seropositive animals were identified in August 2012 (1.6%), and the percentage increased gradually, reaching 57.1% in December of this year. The proportion of seropositive animals in 2013 at the level of 34.2% increased tenfold in comparison to 2012 (3.4%), which was particularly significant at the level of individual provinces. In 2013, the highest percentages of SBV seropositive animals were found in Dolnoslaskie (92.3%), Podlaskie (82.3%), and Zachodniopomorskie (80.9%) provinces. Significant associations between the seroprevalence and province of origin, month, ruminant species, and insect vector activity were found, while no dependence of animal age on seropositivity was observed. The differences between SBV seropositive large and small ruminants suggested the involvement of some vector exposure factors, which needs to be further investigated.

Detection of Schmallenberg Virus RNA in Bull Semen in Poland

“…The positive samples were collected at the end of 2013 and in 2014, originated from two herds where the in-herd prevalence were 4.8% and 13.3%. The occurrence of SBV in the semen of Polish bulls may be explained by the recent circulation of the virus as suggested by the observed increase in seroprevalence among Polish cattle between 2012 when first SBV bovine cases were reported and 2013 when the overwintered virus continued to spread (Larska et al 2014). The observed proportion of SBV RNA positive semen and Ct values are consistent with results obtained in the studies from Germany, France and Netherlands (Hoffmann et al 2013, Van der Poel et al 2013, Ponsart et al 2014.…”

“…The virus has spread rapidly throughout the country infecting over 34% ruminants, with up to 92% seroprevalence at the provCorrespondence to: M. Larska, e-mail: m.larska@piwet.pulawy.pl, tel. : +48 818893068 ince level in 2013 (Larska et al 2014). The aim of this study was to assess the presence of the virus in the semen of Polish bulls.…”

Serological Study of Exposure to Selected Arthropod-Borne Pathogens in European Bison (Bison bonasus) in Poland

“…The virus was isolated from a B. bonasus aborted foetus in Germany (ProMED‐mail, ), suggesting a possible clinical outcome of the SBV infection in the species. First detection of SBV antibodies in European bison at the end of 2012 corresponds with the transmission of the virus to livestock and wildlife in Poland (Larska et al., ,b). A sharp increase of SBV seroprevalence in European bison in winter 2012/2013 depicts the wave of infection that affected naïve populations, which is characteristic for the emerging diseases (Afonso et al., ).…”

Epizootiology of the Schmallenberg virus in Poland

“…Wirus, podobnie jak na zachodzie Europy, przetrwał okres zimowy i wraz ze wzrostem aktywności kuczmanów spowodował kolejną falę zakażeń skutkującą dziesię-ciokrotnym wzrostem odsetka zwierząt seropozytywnych wiosną 2013 r. (ryc. 1) (13)(14)(15)31). Biorąc pod uwagę przeżuwacze wolno żyjące, pod koniec 2013 r. średnia seroprewalencja dla kraju wynosiła 24%, przy czym była ona wyższa w województwach wschodnich (36,6%) niż w zachodnich (22,8%) (32).…”

“…Analiza rozprzestrzenienia seroprewalencji u poszczególnych gatunków zwierząt wrażliwych sugeruje, że wyższy odsetek seroreagentów stanowią duże przeżuwacze (bydło, żubr) w porównaniu z małymi (31,32). Może to wynikać z różnic w ich wrażliwości na zakażenie SBV.…”