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Aphids are important agricultural pests, vectors of many plant viruses and have sophisticated relationships with symbiotic microorganisms. Abundant asymptomatic RNA viruses have been reported in aphids due to the application of RNA-seq, but aphid-virus interactions remain unclear. Bunyavirales is the most abundant RNA virus order, which can infect mammals, arthropods, and plants. However, many bunyaviruses have specific hosts, such as insects. Here, we discovered 18 viruses from 10 aphid species by RNA-seq. Importantly, a widespread presence bunyavirus, Aphid bunyavirus 1 (ABV-1), was determined to have a wide host range, infecting and replicating in all 10 tested aphid species. ABV-1 may be transmitted horizontally during feeding on plant leaves and vertically through reproduction. In a comparison of the physiological parameters of ABV-1

Bunyaviruses cleave host cellular mRNAs to acquire cap structures for their own mRNAs in a process called cap-snatching. How bunyaviruses interact with cellular mRNA surveillance pathways such as nonsense-mediated decay (NMD) during cap-snatching remains poorly understood, especially in plants. Rice stripe virus (RSV) is a plant bunyavirus threatening rice production in East Asia. Here, with a newly developed system allowing us to present defined mRNAs to RSV in Nicotiana benthamiana, we found that the frequency of RSV to target nonsense mRNAs (nsRNAs) during cap-snatching was much lower than its frequency to target normal mRNAs. The frequency of RSV to target nsRNAs was increased by virus-induced gene silencing of UPF1 or SMG7, each encoding a protein component involved in early steps of NMD (in an rdr6 RNAi background). Coincidently, RSV accumulation was increased in the UPF1- or SMG7-silenced plants. These data indicated that the frequency of RSV to target nsRNAs during cap-snatching is restricted by NMD. By restricting the frequency of RSV to target nsRNAs, NMD may impose a constraint to the overall cap-snatching efficiency of RSV. Besides a deeper understanding for the cap-snatching of RSV, these findings point to a novel role of NMD in plant-bunyavirus interactions.

Schmallenberg virus (SBV) is an emerging Culicoides‐borne Orthobunyavirus that affects ruminant species. Between 2011 and 2013, it was responsible for a large‐scale epidemic in Europe. In the present study, we aimed to determine the seroprevalence, spatial distribution and risk factors associated with SBV exposure in sheep and goats in the region where the first Schmallenberg disease outbreak in Spain was reported. Blood samples from 1,796 small ruminants from 120 farms were collected in Andalusia (southern Spain) between 2015 and 2017. Antibodies against SBV were detected in 536 of 1,796 animals (29.8%; 95%CI: 27.7–32.0) using a commercial blocking ELISA. The individual seroprevalence according to species was 31.1% (280/900; 95%CI: 28.1–34.1) in sheep and 28.6% (256/896; 95%CI: 25.6–31.5) in goats. The farm prevalence was 76.7% (95%CI: 69.1–84.2). Seropositivity to SBV was confirmed in both sheep and goats in all provinces by virus neutralization test. Two significant (p < .001) spatial clusters of high seroprevalence were identified. The generalized estimating equation analysis showed that management system (extensive), temperature (>14ºC) and altitude (

A serosurvey for Tahyna virus (TAHV), a mosquito-borne California encephalitis orthobunyavirus (Peribunyaviridae) endemic to Europe, was performed to estimate the activity of TAHV on a broad geographic scale. Sera from wild boar (Sus scrofa), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and red deer (Cervus elaphus) were collected from Austria, Hungary and Romania. Samples were tested for neutralizing antibodies against TAHV using a virus microneutralization assay. The results demonstrate that TAHV transmission to mammals is widespread in Europe, particularly in the wild boar population where the mean rate of seroconversion is 15.2%.

Akabane virus (AKAV) is teratogenic to the foetus of domestic ruminants and causes a significant reproduction loss in cattle in Japan. In several past epizootics in cattle, AKAV was also associated with post-natal encephalomyelitis, mainly in calves and young stock. Previously analysed AKAV isolates in East Asia form two major clusters, genogroups I and II, with isolates involved in encephalomyelitis belonging mainly to the former. Between 2007 and 2013, AKAV epizootics were regularly observed in Japan during the summer/autumn season, and abnormal deliveries and post-natal encephalomyelitis caused by the virus in cattle were reported. During this period, 30 AKAV isolates were obtained from diseased and sentinel cattle, a piglet and Culicoides biting midges throughout Japan and were subjected to genetic comparison and phylogenetic analysis with previous isolates. In 2007, 2011 and 2013, AKAV belonging to genogroup I was identified in the central nervous systems of calves showing neurological disorders. Notably, a total of 165 cases of bovine encephalomyelitis were reported in 2011 and the isolated viruses from affected animals shared high genetic identities with a South Korean isolate that was associated with a large outbreak in 2010, suggesting some epidemiological linkage between these epizootics. Epizootics of genogroup II were observed in 2008 and 2010, but bovine post-natal encephalomyelitis cases rarely occurred. Our findings suggest that the frequent incursion of genogroup I isolates has increased the frequency of post-natal encephalomyelitis cases in Japan in recent years. Infection by genogroup I virus was also identified in piglets with neurological disorders or congenital malformations in 2011 and 2013. The aetiological role of AKAV in pigs should be elucidated in the future.

A broad diversity of arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) of global health concern are endemic to East Africa, yet most surveillance efforts are limited to just a few key viral pathogens. Additionally, estimates of arbovirus diversity in the tropics are likely to be underestimated as their discovery has lagged significantly over past decades due to limitations in fast and sensitive arbovirus identification methods. Here, we developed a nearly pan-arbovirus detection assay that uses high-resolution melting (HRM) analysis of RT-PCR products from highly multiplexed assays to differentiate broad diversities of arboviruses. We differentiated 15 viral culture controls and seven additional synthetic viral DNA sequence controls, within Flavivirus, Alphavirus, Nairovirus, Phlebovirus, Orthobunyavirus and Thogotovirus genera. Among Bunyamwera, sindbis, dengue and Thogoto virus serial dilutions, detection by multiplex RT-PCR-HRM was comparable to the gold standard Vero cell plaque assays. We applied our low-cost method for enhanced broad-range pathogen surveillance from mosquito samples collected in Kenya and identified diverse insect-specific viruses, including a new clade in anopheline mosquitoes, and Wesselsbron virus, an arbovirus that can cause viral haemorrhagic fever in humans and has not previously been isolated in Kenya, in Culex spp. and Anopheles coustani mosquitoes. Our findings demonstrate how multiplex RT-PCR-HRM can identify novel viral diversities and potential disease threats that may not be included in pathogen detection panels of routine surveillance efforts. This approach can be adapted to other pathogens to enhance disease surveillance and pathogen discovery efforts, as well as the study of pathogen diversity and viral evolutionary ecology.

Schmallenberg virus (SBV) causes abortions, stillbirths and fetal malformations in naïve ruminants. The impact of the initial outbreak (2011/2012) on British sheep farms has been previously investigated, with higher farmer perceived impacts and increased lamb and ewe mortality reported on SBV-affected farms. After several years of low, or no, circulation the UK sheep flock once again became vulnerable to SBV infection. Re-emergence was confirmed in autumn 2016. This study reports the analysis of a questionnaire designed to determine the farm-level impact of SBV on the 2016/2017 UK lambing period. Higher neonatal lamb mortality, dystocia and associated ewe deaths, and higher perceived impacts on sheep welfare, flock financial performance and farmer emotional wellness were reported on SBV confirmed (n=59) and SBV suspected (n=82), than SBV not suspected (n=74) farms. Additionally, although few farmers (20.4 per cent) reported previously vaccinating against SBV, the majority (78.3 per cent) stated they would vaccinate if purchasing at less than £1 per dose. These results are largely comparable to the findings reported for the 2011/2012 outbreak, highlighting the ongoing impact of SBV on sheep farms. If SBV continues to re-emerge cyclically, the economic and animal welfare costs to the UK sheep farming industry will continue.

Bunyamwera virus (BUNV) (Bunyaviridae, genus Orthobunyavirus, serogroup Bunyamwera) is considered an emerging pathogen for humans and animals in American countries. The CbaAr-426 strain of BUNV was recovered from mosquitoes Ochlerotatus albifasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) collected in Cordoba province (Argentina), where serological studies detected high seroprevalences in humans and animals. Molecular detection of Orthobunyavirus was performed in mosquitoes collected in Cordoba province. Seventeen mosquito pools of Oc. albifasciatus, Ochlerotatus scapularis and Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) showed positive results; four of these positive pools, all of Oc. scapularis, were sequenced. All amplicons grouped with BUNV in the Bunyamwera serogroup. The findings highlight the circulation of BUNV in Cordoba province and represent the first report of BUNV-infected Oc. scapularis mosquitoes in Argentina.

SCHMALLENBERG virus (SBV) emerged during the summer of 2011 in north-western Europe and was identified for the first time in dairy cattle herds in Germany (Hoffmann and others 2012). The virus belongs to the Simbu serogroup of Orthobunyaviruses and many similarities have been reported with the closely related Akabane virus regarding its transmission, pathogenesis and induced clinical signs. SBV causes mild clinical signs in adult ruminants, ranging from fever, diarrhoea and temporarily reduced milk production. However, infection of pregnant cattle, sheep and goats can cause transplacental transmission leading months later to abortions, stillbirths and congenital malformations characterised by the arthrogryposis-hydranencephaly syndrome in newborns (Doceul and others 2013). After its first identification in Germany in 2011, SBV spread rapidly and widely over a large part of Europe, including the UK (EFSA 2014). Indigenous European Culicoides biting midges, which were already known to have spread bluetongue virus serotype 8 after its emergence in Europe in 2006 (Mehlhorn and others 2007, Meiswinkel and others 2007), were found to be responsible for the rapid transmission of SBV (De Regge and others 2012, 2015). Seroprevalence studies showed that the majority of domestic ruminants became infected in SBV-affected countries (Meroc 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 …

Several species of Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are vectors of pathogens, such as the bluetongue (BTV) and Schmallenberg (SBV) viruses, which cause important diseases in domestic and wild ruminants. As wild ruminants can contribute to overwintering and epizootics of both diseases, knowledge of the host-feeding behaviour of Culicoides in natural ecosystems is important to better understand their epidemiology. Blood-engorged Culicoides females trapped in natural areas inhabited by different wild ruminant species were genetically analysed to identify host species. The origin of bloodmeals was identified in 114 females of 14 species of Culicoides. A total of 104 (91.1%) Culicoides fed on mammals and 10 (8.9%) on birds. The most abundant host identified was red deer (66.7%), followed by humans (13%) and fallow deer (6.1%). Eleven of the 14 species of Culicoides fed exclusively on mammalian hosts. Among them, five are mammalophilic species considered to be important BTV and/or SBV vectors. The results of the present study confirm that Culicoides imicola, Culicoides obsoletus, Culicoides scoticus, Culicoides pulicaris and Culicoides punctatus fed on wild ruminants, and therefore support the hypothesis that these species can act as bridge vectors by facilitating the circulation of pathogens between wild and domestic ruminant communities. info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersion

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) was firstly discovered in China in 2010, followed by several reports from many other countries worldwide. SFTS virus (SFTSV) has been identified as the causative agent of the disease and has been recognized as a public health threat. This novel Bunyavirus belongs to the Phlebovirus genus in the family Bunyaviridae. This review also describes the different aspects of virology, pathogenesis, epidemiology, and clinical symptoms on the basis of the published article surveillance data and phylogenetic analyses of viral sequences of large, medium, and small segments retrieved from database using mega 5.05, simplot 3.5.1, network 4.611, and epi information system 3.5.3 software. SFTS presents with fever, thrombocytopenia, leukocytopenia, and considerable changes in several serum biomarkers. The disease has 10 ∼ 15% mortality rate, commonly because of multiorgan dysfunction. SFTSV is mainly reported in the rural areas of Central and North-Eastern China, with seasonal occurrence from May to September, mainly targeting those of ≥50 years of age. A wide range of domesticated animals, including sheep, goats, cattle, pigs, dogs, and chickens have been proven seropositive for SFTSV. Ticks, especially Haemaphysalis longicornis, are suspected to be the potential vector, which have a broad animal host range in the world. More studies are needed to elucidate the vector–animal–human ecological cycle, the pathogenic mechanisms in high level animal models and vaccine development. © 2013 The Authors. Reviews in Medical Virology published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A highly sensitive one-step real-time RT-PCR method using a minor-groove-binding (MGB) probe was developed for detection and quantitation of severe febrile with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV). The assay could discriminate SFTSV infection from other related viral diseases in human with a minimum detection limit of 10 viral RNA copies/µl and was 1,000 times more sensitive than the conventional PCR. Strong linear correlations (r2 > 0.99) between the Ct values and viral RNA standards over a linear range were obtained. The coefficients of variation of intra- and inter-assay reproducibility were both less than 2%. The RT-PCR was also shown to be highly specific, as no positive signals were detected for other related viruses. Evaluation of this assay with serum samples from laboratory confirmed cases and healthy donors showed 100% clinical diagnostic sensitivity and over 99% specificity. Clinical application with samples from 287 patients admitted to the hospital with suspected SFTSV infection showed that 15% were infected by SFTSV. This assay was rapid, requiring just over 2 hr, including the nucleic acid extraction step. J. Med. Virol. 85:370–377, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The Human Animal Infections and Risk Surveillance (HAIRS) group is a collaboration between a number of human and animal health organisations within the UK government. The group aims to provide a 'joined-up' response to emerging diseases that threaten the health of people or animals. Here, Dilys Morgan, who chairs the group, discusses its work, highlighting its response to Schmallenberg virus, and shows how a One Health approach can improve government responses to potential crises.

Since the 1980s, a comprehensive field and laboratory investigation has been conducted throughout China, and a total of 29 virus species belonging to 7 families and 13 genera were identified through virological, morphological, and immunological methods, as well as whole-genome sequencing and molecular genetic analyses. Most of the virus isolates belong to 9 genera in the families Flaviviridae, Bunyaviridae, Togaviridae, and Reoviridae. Among them, 4 genera (Orthobunyavirus, Bunyavirus, Phlebovirus, and Nairovirus) belong to the family Bunyaviridae and 3 genera (Seadonavirus, Orbivirus, and Cypovirus) belong to the family Reoviridae. Analyses of the relationships between viruses and human/animal diseases indicated that Japanese encephalitis virus, dengue virus, severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus, tick-borne encephalitis virus, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus, West Nile virus, and Tahyna virus can cause human and animal infections and disease epidemics in China. This review systematically introduces the current status of the diversity and geographical distribution of arboviruses and vectors in China. In addition, our results provide strong technical support for the prevention and control of arboviral diseases, the treatment of epidemics, and the early warning and prediction of diseases, and so they are significant for the control and prevention of arboviral diseases in Asia and around the world.

The family Bunyaviridae contains over 350 named isolates, classified into five genera: Orthobunyavirus, Hantavirus, Nairovirus, Phlebovirus and Tospovirus. The Orthobunyavirus genus contains some 170 isolates that are mainly transmitted by mosquitoes and are responsible for a range of disease syndromes in humans including self-limiting febrile illness, encephalitis and haemorrhagic fever. The viruses have a tripartite, negative-sense RNA genome. Analyses of viruses in four serogroups (Bunyamwera, California, Group C and Simbu) showed that the smallest (S) RNA segment encodes the nucleocapsid protein (N) and a non-structural protein called (NSs). The NSs protein of Bunyamwera virus (BUNV) has been shown to play a role in shut-off of host cell protein synthesis in mammalian cells, but no protein shut-off is observed in BUNVinfected mosquito cells (Aedes albopictus C6/36 cells). Protein shut-off in infected mammalian cells is achieved by global inhibition of RNA polymerase II-mediated transcription and enables the virus to overcome the host innate immune response. As innate defence mechanisms constitute a significant barrier to virus infection of different hosts, NSs would appear to play a key role in determining the zoonotic capacity of orthobunyaviruses.

MALFORMED fetuses attributable to Schmallenberg virus (SBV) were found in 49 cattle herds and 30 sheep flocks exclusively in the southern and eastern parts of Ireland (Barrett, D., More, S. J., O'Neill, R., Bradshaw, B., Casey, M., Keane, M., McGrath, G. & Sammin, D. (Submitted) Prevalence and distribution of exposure to Schmallenberg virus in Irish cattle during November 2012 to November 2013). National bovine serological studies late in 2012 and 2013 confirmed exposure to SBV was effectively confined to the south-east (Barrett and others, submitted). It was unclear whether the distribution of seroconversion in cattle reflected the situation in sheep. Several studies have shown that Culicoides species preferentially feed on cattle rather than sheep (Ninio and others 2011, Ayllon and others 2014, Elbers & Meiswinkel 2014), leading to lower levels of seroconversion in sheep flocks than in neighbouring cattle herds (Gache and others 2013). It was anticipated that SBV would continue to spread across the country over the second (2013) vector season, similar to the experience in mainland Europe (Garigliany and others 2012, Veldhuis and others 2013, Balmer and others 2014). The objectives of this study were to determine the geographical distribution of SBV exposure in Irish sheep before and during the 2013 vector season, and to determine if SBV was active in 2013 in flocks where SBV infection was previously confirmed. Two studies were conducted, each in different sets of sheep flocks. In the first study, serological samples were collected in 32 sentinel flocks sampled on two …

WE would like to draw colleagues' attention to our investigations into lambing in UK flocks with the help of undergraduate BVetMed students during their lambing placements. A pilot study for collecting data on lambing performance by vet students during their placements was initiated by the then VLA veterinary surveillance centre at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) in 2004. Topical amendments this year were additional questions referring to the perceived presence or absence of Schmallenberg virus (SBV) on the farms and the number of affected lambs. Vet students spend approximately two weeks lambing in sheep flocks all over the UK during their first two years of study. Therefore, there is access to a large number of flocks – for example, data from 262 flocks on 177 farms were entered in 2012. Many of these farms had little, if any, veterinary presence on farm …

British sheep farmers were invited to complete a questionnaire about the impact of Schmallenberg virus (SBV) on animal health, welfare and their own emotional wellbeing during the 2011–2012 lambing season, through Defra and Farming Industry websites, letters to farmers who had requested SBV laboratory tests and advertisement at Sheep 2012. The 494 responders included SBV confirmed (positive by RT-PCR) (n=76), SBV suspected by farmer (n=140) or SBV not suspected (n=278). Percentage of barren ewes was similar across SBV groups, however, lamb and ewe losses were higher on responder farms where SBV was confirmed or suspected. The median percentages of all lambs born (and lambs born deformed ) that died within one week of birth was 10.4 per cent (5.5 per cent), 7.0 per cent (2.9 per cent) and 5.3 per cent (0 per cent), respectively, on SBV confirmed, suspected and not suspected farms (P

Schmallenberg virus (SBV) is a recently emerged Orthobunyavirus of ruminants originally discovered in 2011 near the town of Schmallenberg in Germany (Hoffmann and others 2012). SBV appears to have entered Europe in the summer of 2011 and has since spread rapidly across much of central and northern Europe. Seroprevalence in some areas has been reported close to 100 per cent (Tarlinton and others 2012, Meroc and others 2013). Viruses closely related to SBV are known to be transmitted by Culicoides biting midges (Jennings and Mellor 1989), and field studies have shown the presence of SBV RNA in Culicoides species in several affected countries (Rasmussen and others 2012, Elbers and others 2013). SBV infection is associated with abortion and malformations in cattle and sheep, and has been shown to be neurotropic in lambs and calves infected in utero (van den Brom and others 2012, Varela and others 2013). In dairy cattle, an ‘acute’ form of the disease associated with a drop in milk yield, diarrhoea and mild pyrexia has also been observed. Here we report a within-herd study on a typical dairy farm located in southern England during 2012. The farm runs a dairy herd comprising approximately 230 Holstein cows, approximately 150 of which represent a milking herd. Importantly, no animals were imported onto the farm during the period of this study. In February 2012, a cow (#157) aborted close to term. Suspecting SBV as the cause of abortion, we sampled the affected cow as well as nine additional animals using an indirect SBV antibody ELISA (IDvet). …

In France, a national surveillance plan to monitor congenital Schmallenberg virus (SBV) outbreaks was set up in January 2012, and has shown that SBV had become widespread throughout the country since mid-2011. However, the number of SBV-infected farms cannot accurately be estimated through congenital SBV reporting alone. Therefore, GDS France (National Animal Health Farmers' Organization) conducted serological investigations in cattle and sheep holdings in several departments in spring 2012 to assess SBV exposure in 2011. A serological study was also conducted in the department of Saône-et-Loire (southern Burgundy) to establish an accurate local overview of circulation of virus in 2011 among cattle. The study was conducted following guidelines elaborated by the French Platform for animal health surveillance. Results indicated differences in within-herd seroprevalence between cattle herds and sheep herds in departments where outbreaks of congenital SBV were reported in early 2012 and a great heterogeneity in seroprevalence between areas (even between areas geographically close to each other). In departments which had been severely affected in early 2012, the overall impact of SBV infection in cattle herds during the 2012-2013 calving season will probably be low. On the other hand, given the low proportion of immunised ewes in sheep SBV outbreaks, sheep flocks which were already affected in early 2012 may once again face congenital cases of SBV.

A NEW disease in cattle, causing clinical signs including fever, reduced milk yield, inappetence and loss of body condition, was reported in the Netherlands and Germany in August 2011. From November 2011 onwards, there were reports of abortions and stillbirths associated with congenital abnormalities affecting mainly sheep but also cattle and goats. A novel virus, named Schmallenberg virus (SBV), was identified as the cause of both clinical presentations. SBV is an arthropod-borne orthobunyavirus of the Simbu serogroup. On January 23, 2012, the presence of SBV infection was confirmed in Britain for the first time on four sheep farms in Norfolk, Suffolk and East Sussex (AHVLA 2012). Confirmation was by RT-PCR on tissues from animals with clinical signs …

WE would like to report serological evidence of Schmallenberg virus (SBV) infection in a dairy herd in south-west Scotland in 2012. The herd is managed as two separate groups: group P, consisting of 190 cows that had access to pasture grazing between May and September 2012; and group R, consisting of 60 cows that were housed throughout 2012 and were never at pasture. Both groups shared the same building from the end of September 2012, but were managed and milked separately. As part of routine herd health surveillance, we tested bulk milk for antibodies against SBV on the two separate groups in December 2012. The sample from group P …

IT no longer seems appropriate to describe Schmallenberg virus (SBV) as a ‘low impact disease’. Outbreaks in Devon appear to be widespread in flocks lambing in November and December and losses appear to be higher than expected from previous reports in the UK. We have been personally involved with two cases on farms in north Devon, both confirmed by PCR on lamb tissue, but we and our colleagues have …

IN August, I wrote to give an update on the surveillance Defra was funding to find out where Schmallenberg virus (SBV) had spread to in England and Wales over the summer of 2012 ( VR , August 4, 2012, vol 171, p130). The results from this have been updated in the SBV pages on the AHVLA website (www.defra.gov.uk/ahvla/2012/12/14/schmallenberg-virus-updated-testing-results-figures). Defra was aware from its funded testing, and also from studies by the Pirbright Institute that SBV had overwintered in England. Through raising awareness for acute disease in adult dairy cattle, continued vigilance for the birth of malformed offspring, and serological testing by the AHVLA of sheep samples in counties where SBV had not previously been detected, along with privately tested samples, we have now detected evidence of SBV across all rural counties in England. From these results, …

Schmallenberg virus (SBV) infection is an emerging livestock disease caused by a novel Orthobunyavirus which was first identified in Germany in November 2011. Non-specific clinical signs such as fever, decreased milk production and diarrhoea are associated with the acute infection in cattle, while late abortions and birth defects in newborns can be associated with the infection of pregnant cows, ewes and goats (Hoffmann and others 2012, Van den Brom and others 2012). As of March 30, 2012, since the first identification of congenital forms of SBV virus infection in The Netherlands in December 2011, about 3000 confirmed outbreaks have been reported in eight European countries (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Spain, UK) (French National Surveillance Platform for Animal Health 2012). However, little is known about SBV virus infection, especially with regard to its clinical impact in the affected herds. SBV emergence is closely monitored in France. Farmers are urged to contact their veterinarian when encountering cases of ruminant neonates or fetuses stillborn, malformed or showing nervous disorders. A brain sample is collected on any newborn suspected of congenital SBV until a first confirmation of the infection is obtained for the herd. An SBV diagnostic test is performed in state diagnostic laboratories, using real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR). The first cases of SBV virus infection were …

PAUL Roger's letter on assessing the risk of spread of Schmallenberg virus (SBV) ( VR , July 21, 2012, vol 171, p 77) was timely as I was on the cusp of being able to announce an update to Defra's continuing support to the development of our understanding of this virus. As Mr Roger recognises, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), having collected data on the same parameters from all affected EU member states, considers SBV to be of low impact: 3745 holdings found positive from a possible 1.15 million holdings in the eight affected member states, with variable regional effects from as low as 0.01 per cent of holdings to a maximum of 7.6 per cent of sheep premises in one region of Germany. Since the disease was first detected in August 2011, it has spread rapidly across northern Europe, in what was clearly a naive population. In addition, the EFSA …

I FEEL there should be increasing concern over the potential for geographical spread of Schmallenberg virus (SBV) in Great Britain. In the past few years we have seen incursion of three major threats to the livestock industry; namely, foot-and-mouth disease virus, bluetongue virus serotype 8 and, latterly, SBV. In the initial stages of disease recognition and its incursion, government and its agencies have responded promptly and acted cohesively with the major stakeholders involved and have provided a central lead to the way we deal with exotic disease. Part of the responsibility faced by government for these exotic disease incursions is the development of effective strategies to deal with them and to provide a lead in developing and implementing these plans. This is …

SINCE December 2011, an epizootic of congenital malformations, designated as arthrogryposis-hydranencephaly syndrome, has occurred in ruminants, mainly sheep and cattle, in several countries in western Europe (Van den Brom and others 2012). The disease has been associated with a new Orthobunyavirus, named Schmallenberg virus (Hoffman and others 2012). After Schmallenberg virus was detected by RT-qPCR in brain tissue from malformed lambs on December 15, 2011, the Dutch …

INITIAL reports from the affected countries indicate that Schmallenberg virus is difficult to detect in aborted calves because of the length of time from infection to abortion, while in aborted lambs it is more readily detectable because of …

THE emergence of a novel virus in ruminants in northern Europe was described by the Dutch and German authorities late last year following their initial investigations, and their findings were first reported by Defra on December 20, 2011 (www.defra.gov.uk/animal-diseases/monitoring). The virus is closely related to known orthobunyaviruses, such as Akabane and Shimane viruses. These generally cause mild, transient clinical signs, often in cattle, are transmitted by insect vectors and may lead to abortion and congenital malformations in offspring infected during gestation. This new virus (Schmallenberg virus or …

Infection of cattle with bluetongue and Douglas viruses was detected on the central and southern coast of New South Wales from January to April 1989. Bluetongue virus infection was found well south of areas of expected occurrence. Evidence is presented to support wind-borne dispersal of infected vectors, Culicoides brevitarsis, southwards from the Hunter Valley.