As a result of the Schmallenberg virus (SBV) technical and scientific studies a lot of scientific information of SBV issues has been obtained.
The scientific report of the studies performed by a five-country consortium of veterinary research institutes coordinated by the Central Veterinary Institute (CVI) part of Wageningen UR is now published.
From the SBV technical and scientific studies it can be concluded that Schmallenberg virus primarily infects domestic and wild ruminants and cattle and sheep seem to be the most susceptible species. Schmallenberg virus was introduced in Europe in 2011. After exposure SBV rapidly spread within naive herds, and also throughout winter. The origin of the virus remains unknown. Certain species of Palearctic Culicoides biting midges are the main vectors of SBV. Transovarial SBV-transmission in culicoids has not been observed
Increased insights in SBV topics and related issues also revealed that there are several important topics remaining for which study is recommended. This includes the tracing back of the SBV origin and in relation to that the study on SBV strain variation. A risk analysis of possible ways of introduction may be helpful to avoid new introductions of SBV-like viruses in future.
These scientific studies on “Schmallenberg” virus by a five-country consortium of veterinary research institutes coordinated by the CVI were carried out by Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI), Germany; Veterinary and Agrochemical Research Centre (VAR-CODA-CERVA), Belgium; L'Agence nationale chargée de la sécurité sanitaire de l'alimentation, de l'environnement et du travail (ANSES), France; Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA), United Kingdom; CVI, the Netherlands.