Early warning of killer virus in South West
Disease surveillance tests have indicated that the midge-borne Schmallenberg virus was in circulation in South West Scotland during the autumn of 2017.
But vets claim that the results, revealed yesterday, should be interpreted only as an early warning of a potential problem in one area – and an indication that risks were much lower elsewhere in the country, particularly north of the Central belt.
The signs of Schmallenberg Virus (SBV) – which can result in life-threatening deformities in newborn calves and lambs – were confirmed in samples from Dumfries and Galloway in analyses conducted on bulk milk samples from across the country.
The tests were carried out by SAC Consulting veterinary services in order to give an early warning after it was found that a number of birth deformities in Northern England and Southern Scotland last year had been due to the disease.
George Caldow, head of SAC vet services, said that the disease was spread by the midge population – and both numbers and activity levels of these insects could vary markedly between different
0 Schmallenberg can result in life-threatening deformities areas and different farms:
“The results of the study so far can therefore only act as a guide – but do suggest that there has been some active transmission of the SBV virus in Dumfries and Galloway in the autumn of 2017.”
He said that this could potentiallyleadtothebirth of some deformed lambs and calves in the region, but the results, taken from 50 herds across the country showed low risk elsewhere:
“In other areas of the country, particularly north of the Central Belt, we expect the disease risk to be much lower. Farmers concerned about potential SBV risk should speak to their vets in the first instance,” said Caldow.
Former NFUS president and current chairman of Livestock Health Scotland, Nigel Miller, said the SBV survey highlighted the value of targeted surveillance and the benefits of veterinary surveillance teams working with milk producers across Scotland:
“The positive bulk milk samples from the south west not only provide an early warning of possible problems ahead, during the 2018 calving and lambing period, but also increase our understanding of the ability of the Schmallenberg virus and its vectors to persist and spread under Scottish climatic conditions.”
The virus which was first identified from infected animals in the German town of Schmallenberg, first entered the UK on wind flows from Europe in 2011 and is spread by midges and can affect both cattle and sheep.
Initial infection can cause general symptoms of reduced appetite, a raised temperature, milk drop and scour. Some of these acute infections may be hard to detect, particularly in cattle and sheep at grass.