title: Skeletal muscle hypoplasia represents the only significant lesion in peripheral organs of ruminants infected with Schmallenberg virus during gestation.
abstract: Schmallenberg virus (SBV), an arbovirus within the family Bunyaviridae, represents a ruminant pathogen that has caused epidemic abortion and birth of malformed or stillborn animals in many European countries since August 2011. Histological and immunohistochemical analysis of peripheral tissues of SBV-infected animals, including lymphoid tissues, endocrine organs and tissues of the gastrointestinal, urogenital and respiratory system, were analyzed in order to elucidate the occurrence of SBV-associated changes and the presence of viral antigens and RNA. Twenty calves and 12 lambs as well as age-matched controls were included in this study. Significant muscular hypoplasia with fatty replacement was noted in affected calves and lambs. In addition, hepatocellular degeneration with lymphohistiocytic inflammation, interstitial fibrosis and biliary hyperplasia was detected in calves. All animals lacked SBV-positive cells in the peripheral organs. These observations resemble those found in Akabane virus- and Cache Valley virus-infected animals and support the occurrence of few residual lesions in peripheral organs following SBV infection.
authors: Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany. Electronic address: frauke.seehusen@tiho-hannover.de.
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Seehusen
authors: Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Hahn
authors: Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany.
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Herder
authors: Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Weigand
authors: Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Habierski
authors: Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany.
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Gerhauser
authors: Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Wohlsein
authors: Staatliches Veterinäruntersuchungsamt, Arnsberg, Germany.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Peters
authors: MRC-University of Glasgow, Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, UK.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Varela
authors: MRC-University of Glasgow, Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, UK.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Palmarini
authors: Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany.
authors: W
authors: W
authors: Baumgärtner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002043:Bunyaviridae; D002044:Bunyaviridae Infections / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000473:pathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D034561:Sheep, Domestic / Q000821:virology*
keywords: Schmallenberg virus; calf; lamb; muscle hypoplasia