Serologic evidence for Schmallenberg virus circulation at high altitude, Central Portugal, 2015-2016

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2018

Authors

Esteves, F (Author) Other; Cruz, R (Author) Other; Vasconcelos Nobrega, C (Author) Other; Santos, C (Author) Other; Ferreira, AS (Author) Other; Petrovic, T (Author) Other; Cardoso, L (Author) Other; Coelho, AC (Author) Other; Vala, H (Author) Other; Nascimento, MSJ (Author) FFUP; Mesquita, JR (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Transboundary and Emerging Diseases

Vol. 65

Pages: 1553-1556

ISSN: 1865-1674

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 1 Citation

Scopus - 1 Citation

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00P-XPA

DOI: 10.1111/tbed.12899

Abstract (EN): A few years after the initial 2011 large scale Schmallenberg virus (SBV) epidemic that affected Europe, a subsequent decrease in new SBV infections was observed presumably associated with natural substitution of previously exposed animals. In the present work, a 2-year prospective serosurvey was performed to evaluate SBV circulation in a population of sheep living at high altitude in the central region of Portugal and with restricted movement. Blood from a representative sample of 168 autochthonous sheep was collected in 2015 and again in 2016, and tested for the presence of anti-SBV IgG by ELISA. Of the 2015 sample collection, seven animals tested positive for anti-SBV IgG, corresponding to a seroprevalence of 4.2% while of the 2016 sample collection, 10 presented SBV antibodies, showing a seroprevalence of 6.0% (p = 0.619). Results show that SBV is endemic in sheep of central Portugal, even in herds at high altitude locations. When comparing anti-SBV seroprevalences of 2015/2016 found in this study, to one detected in 2014 in the same region, a steep decrease could be observed (p < 0.001). This is in accordance with what has been documented in Western European countries, where a decrease in the number of SBV-infected sheep has been found, a fact which may pose a new threat for SBV re-emergence.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 4