Dynamics of Schmallenberg virus infection within a cattle herd in Germany, 2011

• Published in: Epidemiology and infection Vol. 142; no. 7; pp. 1501 - 1504
• Main Authors: WERNIKE, K., SILAGHI, C., NIEDER, M., PFEFFER, M., BEER, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.07.2014
• Subjects: Animals; Antibodies; Antibodies, Viral - blood; Autumn; Biological and medical sciences; Body temperature; Bunyaviridae Infections - epidemiology; Bunyaviridae Infections - veterinary; Bunyaviridae Infections - virology; Cattle; Cattle Diseases - epidemiology; Cattle Diseases - virology; Dairy cattle; Female; Fever; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Germany - epidemiology; Infections; Infertility; Male; Microbiology; Milk; Orthobunyavirus - isolation & purification; Prevalence; Schmallenberg Virus; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Serology; Short Report; Viremia - veterinary; Viremia - virology; Central Europe; Europe; Germany; within-herd prevalence; transmission; Cattle; Schmallenberg virus; Infection; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Bovine; Viral disease; Artiodactyla; Veterinary; Epidemiology; Ungulata
• ISSN: 0950-2688; 1469-4409
• DOI: 10.1017/S0950268813002525

In late 2011, the insect-transmitted Schmallenberg virus (SBV) emerged in Europe. In this study, a cattle farm located in the core region of the epidemic was closely monitored between May 2011 and January 2012. Up to the end of September every tested serum sample was negative by an SBV-specific antibody ELISA, suggesting the absence of an infection before autumn 2011. Around the end of September/beginning of October SBV genome was detected in blood samples of some animals, and a few cows exhibited fever during that period. Starting at the end of September the first cows seroconverted; the within-herd prevalence reached 100% within barely 1 month. Consequently, SBV spread rapidly in the tested herd during the vector season of 2011.