Since last week, when MEPs questioned the European Commission’s response to the Schmallenberg virus, a novel disease which has infected livestock in Europe since Summer 2011, there have been a number of developments relating to SBV.

Whilst the number of cases in Europe continues to rise as lambing and calving progress, the European Commission has condemned the reactions of a number of states in banning produce from affected regions. There are also suggestions that European institutions are making progress with new testing methods.

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Russia, which was amongst the first states to ban animal products (initially cattle semen, meat and live exports) from affected regions, has extended its ban to cover all EU livestock imports in response to Schmallenberg virus; The Commission, which said a “proportional and scientific” response to the outbreak is needed, condemned Russia’s decision which commissioners dismissed as opportunism, using SBV as a convenient excuse.

Starting this week, Russia has suspended all live EU cattle, sheep, goat and pig imports. SBV has been shown to affect ruminants, and although the possibility that it affects other species cannot be completely ruled out, there have been no reports to date of the virus infecting pigs.

Whilst the ban on cattle imports is likely to have moderate effects, impacting on Germany and the Netherlands most severely (it is forecast to cost the countries €15 million and €26m respectively), a ban on pork products will be a major blow to European producers.

A Commission spokesperson said, “Any ban is disproportionate and unjustified because there is absolutely no evidence Schmallenberg poses a risk to humans. The Russian decision on pigs is even more unjustified because there have been no cases of Schmallenberg in pigs.”

Update on disease situation

Schmallenberg virus, named after the town where it was first discovered in Germany, has been reported in a number of EU states, from the Netherlands in the East to Spain in the West and from the UK to Northern Italy. At the time of infection it causes flu-like symptoms in cattle, though no apparent symptoms in sheep, however, if pregnant animals are infected, the disease can result in spontaneous abortion, stillbirth or foetal abnormalities.

SBV is part of the Bunyaviridae family of viruses, which is spread by biting insects; it is currently believed that the virus initially spread to the UK via midges blown over the channel, though as infections come to light in the Midlands, veterinary and pathological experts have begun to suggest that the domestic midge population may have increased spread in 2011. All cases currently being discovered are thought to be the result of infection in autumn last year.

SBV has so far been identified on 190 farms in the UK. Fourteen of the cases have been diagnosed in cattle, with the remaining 176 in sheep. Of around 2,000 cases in the EU, Germany has been worst hit, accounting for nearly 1,000. Although the disease remains non-notifiable, farmers are being encouraged to report any abnormalities during lambing to help build up an accurate picture of the situation in the UK.  

Scientists working in European institutions are reported to be nearing development of a blood test which will provide a much clearer picture about how far Schmallenberg has spread. The announcement was made by the Dutch Central Veterinary Institute last week.

The test, which scientists hope will detect antibodies in the blood of animals, is said to provide more accurate results for bovine testing, meaning there may be a higher number of incidences than have been revealed through previous testing efforts using PCR. Efforts are being made to develop the test for use in affected regions.

In the UK, scientists at the Institute for Animal Health are working to discover how viruses replicate within midges and improver understanding of the insects’ ability to pass on virus in differing climatic conditions. Culicoides midges are considered to be the main vector transmitting SBV to cattle and sheep, but mosquitoes are also being studied by IAH to ascertain their possible role in virus transmission.

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