scholarly journals Epizootiology of the Schmallenberg virus in Poland

2016 ◽  
Vol 72 (5) ◽  
pp. 275-280
Author(s):  
Julia Kęsik-Maliszewka ◽  
Magdalena Larska ◽  
Jan F. Żmudziński
Keyword(s):  
Schmallenberg Virus ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Insect Vector ◽  
Vector Ecology ◽  
Free Living ◽  
Sylvatic Cycle ◽  
Biting Midges ◽  
Continuous Increase ◽  
Specific Symptoms ◽  
Intrauterine Infections

The Schmallenberg virus (SBV), as a new for Europe Ortobuniaviridae genus member, emerged in Poland in 2012, spreading rapidly across the country. Serological monitoring revealed a continuous increase of seropositivity among farm ruminants; moreover, the virus was detected in the insect vector, i.e. biting midges in different regions. The sylvatic cycle of SBV infections cannot be ruled out due to the detection of SBV antibodies in 24% of free living ruminants. Breeding losses related to SBV infection are difficult to estimate because of the lack of regulations for mandatory notifications. Furthermore specific symptoms associated with congenital malformations in newborns are observed only in a small percentage of intrauterine infections. Due to the current restrictions or bans on the export of animals resulting from SBV infection significant economic losses are recorded. The emergence of a new, never previously detected in Europe arbovirus raises a number of questions about its manner of transmission, vector ecology, the possibility of its spread and prevention as well as control of the diseases.

scholarly journals Bluetongue virus without NS3/NS3a expression is not virulent and protects against virulent bluetongue virus challenge

2014 ◽  
Vol 95 (9) ◽  
pp. 2019-2029 ◽  
Author(s):  
Femke Feenstra ◽  
René G. P. van Gennip ◽  
Mieke Maris-Veldhuis ◽  
Eline Verheij ◽  
Piet A. van Rijn
Keyword(s):  
Bluetongue Virus ◽  
Vaccine Virus ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Insect Vector ◽  
Biting Midges ◽  
Effective Measure ◽  
Challenge Virus ◽  
Vaccine Candidates ◽  
Virus Challenge ◽  
The Disabled

Bluetongue is a disease in ruminants caused by the bluetongue virus (BTV), and is spread by Culicoides biting midges. Bluetongue outbreaks cause huge economic losses and death in sheep in several parts of the world. The most effective measure to control BTV is vaccination. However, both commercially available vaccines and recently developed vaccine candidates have several shortcomings. Therefore, we generated and tested next-generation vaccines for bluetongue based on the backbone of a laboratory-adapted strain of BTV-1, avirulent BTV-6 or virulent BTV-8. All vaccine candidates were serotyped with VP2 of BTV-8 and did not express NS3/NS3a non-structural proteins, due to induced deletions in the NS3/NS3a ORF. Sheep were vaccinated once with one of these vaccine candidates and were challenged with virulent BTV-8 3 weeks after vaccination. The NS3/NS3a knockout mutation caused complete avirulence for all three BTV backbones, including for virulent BTV-8, indicating that safety is associated with the NS3/NS3a knockout phenotype. Viraemia of vaccine virus was not detected using sensitive PCR diagnostics. Apparently, the vaccine viruses replicated only locally, which will minimize spread by the insect vector. In particular, the vaccine based on the BTV-6 backbone protected against disease and prevented viraemia of challenge virus, showing the efficacy of this vaccine candidate. The lack of NS3/NS3a expression potentially enables the differentiation of infected from vaccinated animals, which is important for monitoring virus spread in vaccinated livestock. The disabled infectious single-animal vaccine for bluetongue presented here is very promising and will be the subject of future studies.

Intrauterine Infections (Ciba Foundation Symposium 10, new series). Amsterdam/London/New York: Associated Scientific Publishers, 1973, 219 pp., $10.50

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1974 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 132-134
Author(s):  
Alex J. Steigman
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
New York ◽  
Great Britain ◽  
The United States ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Ciba Foundation Symposium ◽  
European Continent ◽  
Intrauterine Infections ◽  
Scientific Publishers

This interesting volume is the result of a proper symposium rather than a collection of submitted reports. The authoritative findings are sprinkled generously with a free flowing discussion which brings sharply into focus what remains to be learned and how to go about it. The 22 well-qualified participants include 17 from Great Britain, 4 from the European continent, and 1 from the United States. Wisely included are the observations of a veterinarian-scientist; lessons learned from studies made primarily to prevent economic losses in animals may become useful to clinicians.

Cross-sectional study of British wild deer for evidence of Schmallenberg virus infection

2020 ◽  
Vol 187 (8) ◽  
pp. e64-e64
Author(s):  
Rebecca Marie Southwell ◽  
Kenneth Sherlock ◽  
Matthew Baylis
Keyword(s):  
Great Britain ◽  
Fallow Deer ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Schmallenberg Virus ◽  
Biting Midges ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Single Region ◽  
Postmortem Blood ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Wild Deer

BackgroundSchmallenberg virus (SBV) is an orthobunyavirus, carried by Culicoides biting midges, that causes reproductive problems in adult ruminants when infected during their gestation period. SBV was first detected in ruminants in the UK in 2011/2012 and then again in 2016. The reason behind the 2016 re-emergence of SBV is unknown, but one possibility is that it can be maintained in wildlife, such as deer. SBV has been detected at high seroprevalence in deer in a number of European countries, but only once in the UK in a single region.MethodsThe purpose of this study was to survey wild deer across Great Britain for recent evidence of SBV. Deer hunters were recruited for the purpose of providing postmortem blood samples to be tested for SBV antibodies.ResultsThe seroprevalence of SBV in the British wild deer population was 13.8 per cent; found in red, roe, muntjac and fallow deer species, with more in deer further south.ConclusionThese results support the growing concern that SBV is now endemic in Great Britain and highlight the need to know the role of wildlife in SBV transmission.

scholarly journals Schmallenberg virus: a systematic international literature review (2011-2019) from an Irish perspective

2019 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Áine B. Collins ◽  
Michael L. Doherty ◽  
Damien J. Barrett ◽  
John F. Mee
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Schmallenberg Virus ◽  
Transmission Risk ◽  
Surveillance Program ◽  
Emerging Viruses ◽  
Biting Midges ◽  
Irish Case

Abstract In Autumn 2011, nonspecific clinical signs of pyrexia, diarrhoea, and drop in milk yield were observed in dairy cattle near the German town of Schmallenberg at the Dutch/German border. Targeted veterinary diagnostic investigations for classical endemic and emerging viruses could not identify a causal agent. Blood samples were collected from animals with clinical signs and subjected to metagenomic analysis; a novel orthobunyavirus was identified and named Schmallenberg virus (SBV). In late 2011/early 2012, an epidemic of abortions and congenital malformations in calves, lambs and goat kids, characterised by arthrogryposis and hydranencephaly were reported in continental Europe. Subsequently, SBV RNA was confirmed in both aborted and congenitally malformed foetuses and also in Culicoides species biting midges. It soon became evident that SBV was an arthropod-borne teratogenic virus affecting domestic ruminants. SBV rapidly achieved a pan-European distribution with most countries confirming SBV infection within a year or two of the initial emergence. The first Irish case of SBV was confirmed in the south of the country in late 2012 in a bovine foetus. Since SBV was first identified in 2011, a considerable body of scientific research has been conducted internationally describing this novel emerging virus. The aim of this systematic review is to provide a comprehensive synopsis of the most up-to-date scientific literature regarding the origin of SBV and the spread of the Schmallenberg epidemic, in addition to describing the species affected, clinical signs, pathogenesis, transmission, risk factors, impact, diagnostics, surveillance methods and control measures. This review also highlights current knowledge gaps in the scientific literature regarding SBV, most notably the requirement for further research to determine if, and to what extent, SBV circulation occurred in Europe and internationally during 2017 and 2018. Moreover, recommendations are also made regarding future arbovirus surveillance in Europe, specifically the establishment of a European-wide sentinel herd surveillance program, which incorporates bovine serology and Culicoides entomology and virology studies, at national and international level to monitor for the emergence and re-emergence of arboviruses such as SBV, bluetongue virus and other novel Culicoides-borne arboviruses.

scholarly journals Comparing Different Larval Food Sources and Temperature Regimes for the Rearing of Culicoides obsoletus/scoticus Complex Midges, the Predominant Bluetongue, and Schmallenberg Virus Vectors in Northern Europe

Proceedings ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 80
Author(s):  
Charlotte Sohier ◽  
Severine Matthijs ◽  
Nick De Regge
Keyword(s):  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Larval Mortality ◽  
Schmallenberg Virus ◽  
Food Sources ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Larval Food ◽  
Dark Light ◽  
Culicoides Obsoletus ◽  
Obsoletus Complex

During the last decade, Europe was confronted with the emergence of two Culicoides-borne viruses, bluetongue virus and Schmallenberg virus. Both diseases caused economic losses in cattle, sheep, and goats. Despite their importance, only limited knowledge is available on the developmental stages of Culicoides obsoletus complex midges, and a lab-reared colony has not yet been established. Therefore, this experimental study aims to compare the emergence patterns from field-collected C. obsoletus complex from egg to adult that were exposed to different combinations of temperature and larval substrates (T1: 1% liquid broth (LB) agar at 24 °C; T2: 1% LB agar with dung patches at 24 °C; T3: 1% LB agar at 28 °C). The rearing dishes were kept in an environmental chamber under an 8 h/16 h dark–light regime and 80%–85% humidity. Algae and nematodes were provided as a food source. The average period required to develop from egg to adult was 24 days and varied strongly in each of the conditions (T1: 15–47 days; T2: 14–35 days; T3: 20–37 days). A bias of sex ratio was observed towards the production of males in all three treatments with only 23.9% (T1), 23.5% (T2), and 0% (T3) females. Larval mortality was highest in T3 (25.9%), followed by T2 (8.6%), and T1 (1.8%). All pupae produced adults within 1 to 10 days, and the emergence rates for pupae varied strongly between treatments: 49.5% (T1), 71.6% (T2), and 38.5% (T3). This study shows that the C. obsoletus complex can be reared under laboratory conditions from blood-fed, wild-caught females to emerged progeny. More larval substrates and food sources should be tested with the aim of obtaining a 1:1 sex ratio to bring us one step closer to a viable lab-reared colony.

scholarly journals Were Polish wild boars exposed to Schmallenberg virus?

2017 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 151-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Kęsik-Maliszewska ◽  
Artur Jabłoński ◽  
Magdalena Larska
Keyword(s):  
Positive Result ◽  
Wild Boar ◽  
Clinical Disease ◽  
Schmallenberg Virus ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Free Living ◽  
Hunting Season ◽  
Wild Boars ◽  
Two Samples ◽  
High Incidence

AbstractIntroduction: A novel to Europe Schmallenberg virus (SBV) causes clinical disease manifested by reproduction disorders in farm ruminants. In free-living ruminants, SBV antibodies as well as the virus were detected. Recent studies also revealed SBV antibodies in wild boars. The study investigates SBV antibodies occurring in wild boars in Poland at the peak of recent virus epidemics in the country.Material and Methods: Samples collected from 203 wild boars culled during the 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 hunting season were serologically tested using multi-species cELISA. Attempted neutralisation tests failed due to poor serum quality. RT-PCR was implemented in seropositive and doubtful animals.Results: Two samples collected from wild boar in the winter of 2013 gave a positive result in ELISA, while another two from the 2012/2013 hunting season were doubtful. No SBV RNA was detected in spleen and liver tissues.Conclusion: Low SBV seroprevalence in wild boars, despite high incidence of SBV infections occurring simultaneously in wild ruminants, suggests that boars are unlikely to be a significant reservoir of the virus in the sylvatic environment in Poland.

scholarly journals Schmallenberg Virus – A New Risk in Cattle Breeding in Europe

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 501-510
Author(s):  
Barbara Cioch ◽  
Ewa Czerniawska-Piątkowska
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Schmallenberg Virus ◽  
Cattle Breeding ◽  
Biting Midges ◽  
Wild Ruminants ◽  
The Town

AbstractSince august 2011 europe has been facing a new virus which attacks the domestic and wild ruminants. The virus was named after the town where the first isolation had been made. The virus in question is transmitted by the biting midges (Culicoides spp.) and it can survive the winter in the bodies of those insects. it is also known that the virus does not endanger human health and it cannot be transferred directly from one animal to another because it is only carried by the vectors.

scholarly journals Survey on Non-Human Primates and Mosquitoes Does not Provide Evidences of Spillover/Spillback between the Urban and Sylvatic Cycles of Yellow Fever and Zika Viruses Following Severe Outbreaks in Southeast Brazil

Viruses ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 364 ◽  
Author(s):  
Filipe Vieira Santos de Abreu ◽  
Anielly Ferreira-de-Brito ◽  
Adriana de Souza Azevedo ◽  
José Henrique Rezende Linhares ◽  
Vanessa de Oliveira Santos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aedes Aegypti ◽  
Yellow Fever ◽  
High Throughput ◽  
Zikv Infection ◽  
Free Living ◽  
Sylvatic Cycle ◽  
Southeast Brazil ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Current Outbreak ◽  
Time Of Collection

In the last decade, Flaviviruses such as yellow fever (YFV) and Zika (ZIKV) have expanded their transmission areas. These viruses originated in Africa, where they exhibit both sylvatic and interhuman transmission cycles. In Brazil, the risk of YFV urbanization has grown, with the sylvatic transmission approaching the most densely populated metropolis, while concern about ZIKV spillback to a sylvatic cycle has risen. To investigate these health threats, we carried out extensive collections and arbovirus screening of 144 free-living, non-human primates (NHPs) and 5219 mosquitoes before, during, and after ZIKV and YFV outbreaks (2015–2018) in southeast Brazil. ZIKV infection was not detected in any NHP collected at any time. In contrast, current and previous YFV infections were detected in NHPs sampled between 2017 and 2018, but not before the onset of the YFV outbreak. Mosquito pools screened by high-throughput PCR were positive for YFV when captured in the wild and during the YFV outbreak, but were negative for 94 other arboviruses, including ZIKV, regardless of the time of collection. In conclusion, there was no evidence of YFV transmission in coastal southeast Brazil before the current outbreak, nor the spread or establishment of an independent sylvatic cycle of ZIKV or urban Aedes aegypti transmission of YFV in the region. In view of the region’s receptivity and vulnerability to arbovirus transmission, surveillance of NHPs and mosquitoes should be strengthened and continuous.

Population Biology of Culicoides-Borne Viruses of Livestock in Europe

2020 ◽  
pp. 119-134
Author(s):  
Simon Gubbins
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Bluetongue Virus ◽  
Population Biology ◽  
Schmallenberg Virus ◽  
Biting Midges ◽  
Different Strains

Culicoides biting midges are the principal vectors for a number of internationally important arboviruses that infect animals. Over recent decades two viruses they transmit, bluetongue virus (BTV) and Schmallenberg virus (SBV), have emerged as major threats to European livestock. Here, the host, vector, viral, and environmental factors which influence the transmission of these viruses are reviewed. The influence of these factors on the patterns of spread that followed their emergence are explored, both for different viruses (BTV and SBV) and for different strains of the same virus (BTV). Finally, consideration is given to the longer-term dynamics of Culicoides-borne viruses and, in particular, their ability to persist from one vector season to the next.

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