1
First evidence of Schmallenberg virus infection in domestic ruminants in Kosovo and Albania
VetIt.1346.7413.3

Supplementary Files

Figure 1
Table I

Keywords

Schmallenberg virus
Simbu serogroup
Seroprevalence
Kosovo
Albania

How to Cite

Rexhepi, A., Wernike, K., Berxholi, K., Marku, N., Spahiu, J., & Sherifi, K. (2021). First evidence of Schmallenberg virus infection in domestic ruminants in Kosovo and Albania. Veterinaria Italiana, 57(1), 13–17. https://doi.org/10.12834/VetIt.1346.7413.3

Abstract

Schmallenberg virus (SBV), a novel Orthobunyavirus, emerged in European domestic ruminants in 2011 causing abortions and malformations in newborns and none or mild clinical symptoms in adult animals. Here, a total of 364 bovine, ovine and caprine serum samples were collected in Kosovo and Albania between May 2014 and August 2016 and analyzed for the presence of anti‑SBV antibodies. Sera were tested using an enzyme‑linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and 48 ELISA‑positive samples were subsequently analyzed by serum neutralization test (SNT). The overall percentage of ELISA positive results was 17.9%; 23.1% (53/229) was the prevalence observed in Kosovo (cattle 45.5%, sheep 19.2% and goat 6.8%), while 8.9% (12/135) was that observed in Albania (cattle 11.1%, sheep 0% and goat 20.0%). SNT confirmed the presence of neutralizing antibodies against SBV in all samples tested. This is the first study reporting SBV circulation in domestic ruminants in Kosovo and Albania, with indication that this virus has been present in Kosovo and Albania at least since 2014 without being detected.

https://doi.org/10.12834/VetIt.1346.7413.3
VetIt.1346.7413.3

References

Azkur A.K., Albayrak H., Risvanli A., Pestil Z., Ozan E., Yılmaz O., Tonbak S., Cavunt A., Kad H., Macun H.C., Acar D., Özenç E., Alparslan S. & Bulut H. 2013. Antibodies to Schmallenberg virus in domestic livestock in Turkey. Trop Anim Health Prod, 45, 1825-1828.

Beer M., Conraths F.J. & Van Der PoelW.H.M.. 2013. ‘Schmallenberg virus’-a novel orthobunyavirus emerging in Europe. Epidemiol Infection, 141, 1-8.

Berisha B., Goga I., Hulaj B., Çaushi D., Sherifi K., Wilsmore A.J. & Taylor W. P. 2010.Entomological research on the vectors of bluetongue disease and the monitoring of activity of Culicoides in the Prishtinë region of Kosova. Vet Ital, 46 (4), 431-437.

Bilk S., Schulze C., Fischer M., Beer M., Hlinakand A. & Hoffmann B. 2012. Organ distribution of Schmallenberg virus RNA in malformed newborns. Vet Microbiol, 159, 236-238.

Bréard E., Lara E., Comtet L., Viarouge C., Doceul V., Desprat A., Vitour D., Pozzi N., Cay A.B., De Regge N., Pourquier P., Schirrmeier H., Hoffmann B., Beer M., Sailleau C. & Zientara S. 2013. Validation of a commercially available indirect ELISA using a nucleocapside recombinant protein for detection of Schmallenberg virus antibodies. PLoS One, 8, e53446.

Chaintoutis S.C., Kiossis E., Giadinis N.D., Brozos C.N., Sailleau C., Viarouge C., Bréard E., Papanastassopoulou M., Zientara S., Papadopoulos O. & Dovas C.I. 2014. Evidence of Schmallenberg virus circulation in ruminants in Greece. Trop Anim Health Prod, 46, 251-255.

De Regge N., Deblauwe I., De Deken R., Vantieghem P., Madder M., Geysen D., Smeets F., Losson B., van den Berg T. & Cay A.B. 2012. Detection of Schmallenberg virus in different Culicoides spp. by real-time RT-PCR. Transbound Emerg Dis, 59, 471-475.

De Regge N., van den Berg T., Georges L. & Cay B. 2013. Diagnosis of Schmallenberg virus infection in malformed lambs and calves and first indications for virus clearance in the fetus. Vet Microbiol, 162, 595-600.

Dominguez M., Gache K. , Touratier A., Perrin J.B., Fediaevsky A., Collin E. , Breard E., Sialleau C., Viarouge C., Zanella G., Zientara S., Henderikx P. & Calavas D. 2014. Spread and impact of the Schmallenberg virus epidemic in France 2012–2013. BMC Vet Res, 10, 248.

Elbers A.R., Loeffen W.L., Quak S., de Boer-Luijtze E., van der Spek A.N.,Bouwstra R., Maas R., Spierenburg M.A.,de Kluijver E.P., van Schaik G. &van der Poel W.H. 2012. Seroprevalence of Schmallenberg virus antibodies among dairy cattle, the Netherlands, winter 2011–2012. Emerg Infec Dis, 18, 1065-1071.

Gache K., Dominguez M., Pelletier C., Petit E., Calavas D., Hendrikx P. &Touratier A. 2014. Schmallenberg virus: a seroprevalence survey in cattle and sheep, France, winter 2011-2012. Vet Rec, 173, 141.

Garigliany M.M., Bayrou C., Kleijnen D., Cassart D. & Desmecht D. 2012a. Schmallenberg virus in domestic cattle, Belgium, 2012. Emerg Infec Dis, 18, 1512-1514.

Garigliany M.M., Hoffmann B., Dive M., Sartelet A., Bayrou C., Cassart D. & Desmecht D. 2012b. Schmallenberg virus in calf born at term with porencephaly, Belgium. Emerg Infec Dis,18 (6), 1005-1006.

Harris K.A., Eglin R.D., Hayward S., Milnes A., Davies I., Cook A.J.C. & Downs S.H. 2014. Impact of Schmallenberg virus on British sheep farms during the 2011/2012 lambing season. Vet Rec, 175, 16-23.

Herder V., Wohlsein P., Peters M., Hansmann F. & Baumgärtner W. 2012. Salient lesions in domestic ruminants infected with the emerging so-called Schmallenberg virus in Germany. Vet Pathol, 49, 588-591.

Hoffmann B., Scheuch M., Hoper D., Jungblut R., Holsteg M., Schirrmeier H., Eschbaumer M., Goller K.V., Wernike K., Fischer M.,Breithaupt A., Mettenleiter T.C. & Beer M. 2012. Novel orthobunyavirus in cattle, Europe, 2011. Emerg Infec Dis, 18, 469-472.

Meloni G., Dei Giudici S., Oggiano A., Pintus D., Bandino E., Savini G., Liciardi M., Foxi C. & Ligios C. 2017. Schmallenberg virus: Pathological and virological findings in affected sheep flocks. J Comp Pathol, 156, 54-141.

Meroc E., Poskin A., Van Loo H.,Van Driessche E., Czaplicki G., Quinet C., Riocreux F., De Regge N., Caij B., van den Berg T., Hooyberghs J. & Van der Stede Y. 2013. Follow-up of the Schmallenberg virus seroprevalence in Belgian cattle. Transbound Emerg Dis, 62(5), 80-84.

Peperkamp N.H. , Luttikholt S.J., Dijkman R., Vos J.H., Junker K., Greijdanus S., Roumen M.P., van Garderen E., Meertens N., van Maanen C., Lievaart K., van Wuyckhuise L. & Wouda W. 2015. Ovine and bovine congenital abnormalities associated with intrauterine infection with schmallenberg virus. Vet Pathol, 52 (6), 1057-1066.

Ponsart C., Pozzi N., Bréard E., Catinot V., Viard G., Sailleau C., Viarouge C., Gouzil J., Beer M., Zientara S. & Vitour D. 2014. Evidence of excretion of Schmallenberg virus in bull semen. Vet Res, 45 (1), 37.

Schulz C., Wernike K., Beer M. & Hoffman B. 2014. Infectious Schmallenberg Virus from Bovine Semen, Germany. Emerg Infec Dis, 20(2), 338-340.

van den Brom R., S Luttikholt.J., Lievaart-Peterson K., Paperkamp N.H., Mars M.H., van der Poel W.H. & Vellema P. 2012. Epizootic of ovine congenital malformations associated with Schmallenberg virus infection. Tijdschr Diergeneeskd, 137, 106-111.

van Maanen C., van der Heijden H., Wellenberg G.J., Witteveen G., Luttikholt S., Bouwstra R., Kooi B., Vellema P., Peperkamp K. & Mars J. 2012. Schmallenberg virus antibodies in bovine and ovine fetuses. Vet Rec, 171, 299.

Veldhuis A.M., van Schaik G., Vellema P., ElbersA.R., Bouwstra R., van der Heijden H.M.& Mars M. H. 2013. Schmallenberg virus epidemic in the Netherlands: Spatiotemporal introduction in 2011 and seroprevalence in ruminants. Prev Vet Med, 112, 35-47.

Veldhuis A.M, Carp-van Dijken S., van Wuijckhuise L., Witteveen G. & van Schaik G.. 2014. Schmallenberg virus in Dutch dairy herds: potential risk factors for high within-herd seroprevalence and malformations in calves, and its impact on productivity. Vet Microbiol,168, 281-293.

Wernike K., Beer M. & Hoffmann B. 2016. Schmallenberg virus infection diagnosis: Results of a German proficiency trial. Transbound Emerg Dis, 64(5), 1405-1410.

Wernike K., Eschbaumer M., Schirrmeier H., Blohm U., Breithaupt A., Hoffmann B. & Beer M. 2013a. Oral exposure, reinfection and cellular immunity to Schmallenberg virus in cattle. Vet Microbiol,165, 155-159.

Wernike K., Hoffmann B., Bréard E., Bøtner A., Ponsart C., Zientara S., Lohse L., Pozzi N., Viarouge C., Sarradin P., Leroux-Barc C., Riou M., Laloy E., Breithaupt A. & Beer M. 2013b. Schmallenberg virus experimental infection of sheep. Vet Microbiol, 166, 461-466.

Wernike K., Conraths F., Zanella G., Granzow H., Gache K., Schirrmeier H., Valas S., Staubach C., Marianneau P., Kraatz F., Höreth-Böntgen D., Reimann I., Zientara S. & Beer M. 2014. Schmallenberg virus—Two years of experiences. Prev Vet Med, 116, 423-434.

Wernike K., Holsteg M., Sasserath M. & Beer M. 2015. Schmallenberg virus antibody development and decline in a naturally infected dairy cattle herd in Germany, 2011-2014. Vet Microbiol, 181, 294-297.