Seroprevalence of Schmallenberg virus antibodies among dairy cattle, the Netherlands, winter 2011-2012.
Infections with Schmallenberg virus (SBV) are associated with congenital malformations in ruminants. Because reporting of suspected cases only could underestimate the true rate of infection, we conducted a seroprevalence study in the Netherlands to detect past exposure to SBV among dairy cattle. A total of 1,123 serum samples collected from cattle during November 2011-January 2012 were tested for antibodies against SBV by using a virus neutralization test; seroprevalence was 72.5%. Seroprevalence was significantly higher in the central-eastern part of the Netherlands than in the northern and southern regions (p<0.001). In addition, high (70%-100%) within-herd seroprevalence was observed in 2 SBV-infected dairy herds and 2 SBV-infected sheep herds. No significant differences were found in age-specific prevalence of antibodies against SBV, which is an indication that SBV is newly arrived in the country.
Department of Epidemiology, Crisis Organisation and Diagnostics, Central Veterinary Institute, part of Wageningen UR, Lelystad, the Netherlands. armin.elbers@wur.nl
Armin R W
AR
Elbers
Willie L A
WL
Loeffen
Sjaak
S
Quak
Els
E
de Boer-Luijtze
Arco N
AN
van der Spek
Ruth
R
Bouwstra
Riks
R
Maas
Marcel A H
MA
Spierenburg
Eric P
EP
de Kluijver
Gerdien
G
van Schaik
Wim H M
WH
van der Poel
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D002044:Bunyaviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D003612:Dairying; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D016851:Orthobunyavirus / Q000276:immunology*; D012621:Seasons; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
D000914:Antibodies, Viral