Schmallenberg virus

Schmallenberg virus:

During recent years, several introductions of arboviruses into Europe have been reported. One of them, namely BTV-8, involved large parts of western Europe, starting (why?!) in the same geographic realm as the current Schmallenberg virus. The experience gathered during the handling of BTV-8 will help the European animal-health authorities in the planning and early performance of epidemiological investigations and control schemes if and when the role of this virus as an animal pathogen is finally confirmed. In case confirmed, it will be interesting to note whether Germany and the Netherlands regard it as an emerging disease. In case affirmative, official notification is due.

Vaccination against Akabane disease has been applied in several counties (e.g. Japan and Australia). Akabane disease is not included in OIE's list; no official data on its situation in OIE member states are available.

One of the outcomes of the BTV-8 episode was the conclusion that culicoides-borne diseases, which are not likely to be transmitted directly between mammals, are not to be controlled by a stamping-out policy but rather by vaccination combined with zoning. The details of any control schemes will also require an answer to a crucial question: Is the Schmallenberg virus zoonotic?
The cited risk assessment provides a plausible roadmap to tackle this question.

Some subscribers have mentioned the absence of another orthobunyavirus, Cache valley virus (CCV), in the recent Dutch and German reports/discussions. CCV is known as the causative agent of congenital malformations in ruminants in the American continent and, reportedly, has infected humans in Argentina (2004-5). This mosquito-borne virus has probably been excluded from the report's considerations due to the fact that it is not included in the relevant Simbu group.

(source Promed)

EFSA: likely epidemiological scenarios and data needs. Technical report
EFSA requested to support EU with work on Schmallenberg virus:
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has an important animal health and welfare remit and it is in this context, that the European Commission has requested urgent scientific and technical assistance for possible risks resulting from the "Schmallenberg" virus [SBV].
On the outcome of negotiations of Rosselkhoznadzor relating to the massive outbreak of a new animal disease caused by Schmallenberg virus [SBV]
First video of suspected Schmallenberg cases in UK.
Schmallenberg virus more difficult to discover in cattle
Statement of the Friedrich-Loeffler-Instituts on „Schmallenberg Virus“ English German
SCHMALLENBERG VIRUS - NETHERLANDS: RISK PROFILE:
So far, Schmallenberg virus has been identified in the North Rhine-Westphalia (Germany) and the Netherlands. Based on an initial assessment of the clinical syndrome in the Netherlands, the infection appears to be dispersed across the country with no apparent geographic clustering. As the family Bunyaviridae contains several medically important viruses, a risk assessment was made to identify potential human health risks.
Slide presentation Netherlands
Slide presentation Germany
Map Belgium
Serological and clinical evidence of a teratogenic Simbu serogroup virus infection of cattle in Israel, 2001-2003
During the last 35 years, two major outbreaks of Akabane virus (AKAV) infection were recorded in cattle in Israel in 1969/1970 and 2002/2003. Congenital malformations of calves characterised by the appearance of an arthrogryposis and hydranencephaly syndrome first appeared in Israel in 1969. Based on epidemiological, clinical, pathological, histopathological and serological data, this syndrome was strongly correlated with seroreactivity to AKAV, a member of the Bunyaviridae, Simbu serogroup.

These photo's showing animals affected by Akabane virus in Israel 2001-2003.
We thank Dr. Jakob Brenner of Kimron Veterinary Institute, Beit Dagan, Israel for sharing these photo's with you.



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