Scientists in Edinburgh have announced that Scottish keepers will have access to the PCR test used to diagnose Schmallenberg Virus (SBV), which was recently discovered in the South East of England, after having first been identified and named in Northern Europe last summer.

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Scientists from Moredun Research Institute have announced that they will be screening all suspect cases of Schmallenberg virus (SBV) found in Scotland. Specialist researchers from Moredun’s virus surveillance unit will perform the diagnostic real time PCR, whilst veterinary pathologists at Moredun will examine samples of potentially affected foetuses submitted via SAC Disease Surveillance centres.

Last week, the presence of SBV was confirmed on four sheep farms; the AHVLA said the disease, part of a family which are transferred by insect vectors, probably came to the UK via infected midges last year.

Dr Kim Willoughby, head of the virus surveillance unit at Moredun commented, “I am very pleased that the PCR test for Schmallenberg virus used in other European countries is now available at Moredun, thanks to a collaboration with the Freidrich Loeffler Institute in Germany. This will allow prompt testing of suspected cases detected in Scotland.”

The virus can infect cattle, sheep and goats and it has been suggested that camelids may also be susceptible. Clinical symptoms in cattle include fever and milk drop and sometimes diarrhoea, though most clinical signs are mild and disappear after a few days. No clinical signs are reported in adult sheep, however infection whilstan animal is pregnant can lead to abortion or damage to the developing foetus causing brain and limb deformities in newborn lambs, kids or calves.

Although none of the reported cases in the UK were found in imported livestock, vets have asked keepers to monitor livestock brought into the UK from Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands, where infected animals have been found.

Dr Willoughby from Moredun encouraged farmers and vets to be vigilant to the signs of disease caused by SBV as the lambing season approaches. She said, “Farmers or veterinary surgeons in Scotland with suspected cases should contact their local SAC centre in the first instance so that suitable cases can be assessed and the appropriate tissue samples forwarded to Moredun for testing if necessary.”

English or Welsh farmers with suspected cases should contact the AHVLA.

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