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. 2012 Jul;18(7):1065-71.
doi: 10.3201/eid1807.120323.

Seroprevalence of Schmallenberg virus antibodies among dairy cattle, the Netherlands, winter 2011-2012

Armin R W Elbers  1 , 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
Affiliations

Seroprevalence of Schmallenberg virus antibodies among dairy cattle, the Netherlands, winter 2011-2012

Armin R W Elbers et al. Emerg Infect Dis. 2012 Jul.

Abstract

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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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Geographic distribution of dairy herds from which 1–4 animals were sampled (red dots) in study of Schmallenberg virus seroprevalence, the Netherlands, 2011–2012. Cattle density is indicated by gray shading; blue outlines denote regional borders.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Geographic distribution of dairy herds sampled in study of Schmallenberg virus seroprevalence with positive results (>1 animals sampled tested seropositive; red dots) and negative results (all animals sampled tested seronegative; yellow dots), the Netherlands, 2011–2012. Cattle density is indicated by gray shading; blue outlines denote regional borders.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Frequency distribution of titers for serum samples (n = 814) positive for Schmallenberg virus antibodies by virus neutralization test (VNT) in study of Schmallenberg virus seroprevalence, the Netherlands, 2011–2012.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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