Bulk-Tank Milk Longitudinal Serosurvey Reveals Decreasing Schmallenberg Virus Circulation in a Confined Population of Portuguese Sheep

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2019

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: Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases

Vol. 19

Pages: 708-710

ISSN: 1530-3667

Publisher: Mary Ann Liebert

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 0 Citations

Scopus - 0 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00R-259

DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2018.2420

Abstract (EN): Introduction: In 2011, Schmallenberg virus (SBV) was first detected in dairy cattle herds in The Netherlands and Germany having since then spread across Europe. Today studies are starting to show a decrease in new SBV infections, a circumstance that raises alerts for possible re-emergence if ideal conditions for vector development occur. To assess the potential decrease in SBV circulation, we performed a 2-year longitudinal serological investigation for SBV infection at the herd level by using bulk-tank milk of a specific sheep breed from central Portugal. Materials and Methods: Bulk-tank milk samples from 68 flocks were collected in both 2015 and 2016, and lactosera were tested for IgG anti-SBV by EIA. Results and Discussion: Results show that in 2015, 92.6% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 83.9-96.8) of the bulk-tank milk samples were positive, whereas in 2016 only 77.9% (95% CI: 66.7-86.1 of the samples from the same flocks were positive. Differences in the 2015/2016 seroprevalences showed to be statistically significant (p = 0.027). This significant decrease at the herd level seems to be in agreement with reported data from other European countries and raise alerts, since increasingly favorable conditions (higher number of susceptible animals) are now present, potentially favoring SBV epidemics if improved conditions for midge replication occur in the future.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 3