title: Rapid spread and association of Schmallenberg virus with ruminant abortions and foetal death in Austria in 2012/2013.
abstract: Schmallenberg virus (SBV) has emerged in summer-autumn 2011 in north-western Europe. Since then, SBV has been continuously spreading over Europe, including Austria, where antibodies to SBV, as well as SBV genome, were first detected in autumn 2012. This study was performed to demonstrate the dynamics of SBV spread within Austria, after its probable first introduction in summer 2012. True seroprevalence estimates for cattle and small ruminates were calculated to demonstrate temporal and regional differences of infection. Furthermore, the probability of SBV genome detection in foetal tissues of aborted or stillborn cattle and small ruminants as well as in allantoic fluid samples from cows with early foetal losses was retrospectively assessed. SBV first reached Austria most likely in July-August 2012, as indicated by retrospective detection of SBV antibodies and SBV genome in archived samples. From August to October 2012, a rapid increase in seroprevalence to over 98% in cattle and a contemporaneous peak in the detection of SBV genome in foetal tissues and allantoic fluid samples was noted, indicating widespread acute infections. Notably, foetal malformations were absent in RT-qPCR positive foetuses at this time of the epidemic. SBV spread within Austrian cattle reached a plateau phase as early as October 2012, without significant regional differences in SBV seroprevalence (98.4-100%). Estimated true seroprevalences among small ruminates were comparatively lower than in cattle and regionally different (58.3-95.6% in October 2012), potentially indicating an eastward spread of the infection, as well as different infection dynamics between cattle and small ruminants. Additionally, the probability of SBV genome detection over time differed significantly between small ruminant and cattle samples subjected to RT-qPCR testing.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Veterinary Disease Control Mödling, AGES - Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, Robert Koch Gasse 17, 2340 Mödling, Austria. Electronic address: adolf.steinrigl@ages.at.
authors.forename: Adolf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Steinrigl
authors.affiliation: Institute for Veterinary Disease Control Mödling, AGES - Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, Robert Koch Gasse 17, 2340 Mödling, Austria.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schiefer
authors.affiliation: Division for Data, Statistics and Risk Assessment, AGES - Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, Beethovenstraße 8, 8010 Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Corina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schleicher
authors.affiliation: Dr. VET - Die Tierärzte, Jöss 6a, 8403 Lebring, Austria.
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Peinhopf
authors.affiliation: Institute for Veterinary Disease Control Mödling, AGES - Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, Robert Koch Gasse 17, 2340 Mödling, Austria.
authors.forename: Eveline
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wodak
authors.affiliation: Institute for Veterinary Disease Control Mödling, AGES - Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, Robert Koch Gasse 17, 2340 Mödling, Austria.
authors.forename: Zoltán
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bagó
authors.affiliation: Institute for Veterinary Disease Control Mödling, AGES - Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, Robert Koch Gasse 17, 2340 Mödling, Austria.
authors.forename: Friedrich
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schmoll
mesh_terms: D000034:Abortion, Veterinary / Q000821:virology*; D000820:Animal Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001317:Austria / Q000453:epidemiology; D002044:Bunyaviridae Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D002417:Cattle / Q000097:blood; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000209:etiology*; D006041:Goats / Q000097:blood; D015233:Models, Statistical; D016851:Orthobunyavirus / Q000472:pathogenicity; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D012307:Risk Factors; D012418:Ruminants; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012756:Sheep / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral
keywords: Austria; RT-qPCR; Schmallenberg virus; Serology; Spread