title: First cases of Schmallenberg virus in Italy: surveillance strategies.
abstract: Following the first report of Schmallenberg virus (SBV) in the brain of a dystocic goat foetus in 2012 in Northern Italy, immediate response actions were adopted to avoid the virus circulation. The brain tested positive by 2 different one-step real-time RT-PCR protocols; these results were also confirmed by partial sequencing of the viral genome. At that time this was the first detection of the new Orthobunyavirus genus within the Bunyaviridae family in Italy. An epidemiological investigation in the involved farm was carried out in collaboration with the CESME - National Reference Centre for the study and verification of Foreign Animal Diseases (Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise 'G. Caporale', Italy). Epidemiological information on the flock was provided and analysed, whole blood and serum samples were also collected from all animals in the farm for both virological and serological investigations. All blood samples tested negative for SBV, whereas serological positive results were obtained by virus-neutralization (VN). Epidemiological investigations indicated the possible virus circulation in the area. The subsequent surveillance actions were mainly based on the standardization and reenforcement of passive surveillance protocols, a risk-based serological surveillance programme through VN and an entomological surveillance programme in the involved geographical areas were also put in place. Eventually SBV local circulation was confirmed by real time RT-PCR in 6 Culicoides pools, collected between September and November 2011 in 3 farms in the surroundings of the area of SBV outbreak.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise 'G. Caporale', Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Monaco
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goffredo
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Federici
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carvelli
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Capobianco Dondona
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Polci
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pinoni
authors.forename: Maria Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Danzetta
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Selli
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bonci
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Quaglia
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Calistri
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002044:Bunyaviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005260:Female; D015511:Goat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D006041:Goats; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D016851:Orthobunyavirus