Emerging Infectious Diseases (Jul 2012)

Seroprevalence of Schmallenberg Virus Antibodies among Dairy Cattle, the Netherlands, Winter 2011–2012

  • Armin R.W. Elbers,
  • Willie L.A. Loeffen,
  • Sjaak Quak,
  • Els de Boer-Luijtze,
  • Arco N. van der Spek,
  • Ruth Bouwstra,
  • Riks Maas,
  • Marcel A.H. Spierenburg,
  • Eric P. de Kluijver,
  • Gerdien van Schaik,
  • Wim H.M. van der Poel

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3201/eid1807.120323
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 18, no. 7
pp. 1065 – 1071

Abstract

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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.

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