Modelling the evolution of Schmallenberg virus seroprevalence in a sheep flock after natural infection.

Modelling the long-term seroprevalence evolution against Schmallenberg virus (SBV) is of first interest to plan vaccination strategies and to predict viral resurgence. The objectives of this study were first to estimate the duration of colostral immunity and the persistence of active immunity in a sheep flock that encountered two episodes of natural SBV infection and then to model the evolution of SBV seroprevalence by considering immune status as well as zootechnical variables. The entire sheep flock of the University of Namur composed by around 400 ewes producing 600 lambs a year and characterized by an annual 24.

S segment variability during the two first years of the spread of Schmallenberg virus.

A large sheep flock screened over a two-year period showed active spreading of Schmallenberg virus (SBV) during the summers of 2011 and 2012. Transplacental infections were observed during the two associated lambing periods (the winters of 2012 and 2013). Analysis of small (S) segment sequences of 38 SBV-positive samples, collected during periods of viral spreading and lambing revealed intra-herd sequences diversity and sub-consensus variability occurring after transplacental infections.

Schmallenberg virus infection of ruminants: challenges and opportunities for veterinarians.

In 2011, European ruminant flocks were infected by Schmallenberg virus (SBV) leading to transient disease in adult cattle but abortions and congenital deformities in calves, lambs, and goat kids. SBV belonging to the Simbu serogroup (family Bunyaviridae and genus ) was first discovered in the same region where bluetongue virus serotype 8 (BTV-8) emerged 5 years before. Both viruses are transmitted by biting midges ( spp.

Characterization of messenger RNA termini in Schmallenberg virus and related Simbuviruses.

Schmallenberg virus (SBV) is an emerging arbovirus infecting ruminants in Europe. SBV belongs to the Bunyaviridae family within the Simbu serogroup. Its genome comprises three segments, small (S), medium (M) and large (L), that together encode six proteins and contain NTRs.

Schmallenberg virus among female lambs, Belgium, 2012.

Reemergence of Schmallenberg virus (SBV) occurred among lambs (n = 50) in a sheep flock in Belgium between mid-July and mid-October 2012. Bimonthly assessment by quantitative reverse transcription PCR and seroneutralization demonstrated that 100% of lambs were infected. Viremia duration may be longer in naturally infected than in experimentally infected animals.

In vivo and in vitro identification of a hypervariable region in Schmallenberg virus.

Detected for the first time in 2011, Schmallenberg virus (SBV) is an orthobunyavirus of the Simbu serogroup that caused a large outbreak in European ruminants. In a tight time frame, data have been obtained on SBV epidemiology and the clinical pictures associated with this new viral infection, but little information is available on the molecular biology of SBV. In this study, SBV sequence variability was characterized from the central nervous system of two stillborn lambs in a naturally infected herd.