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. 2014 Oct 14:10:248.
doi: 10.1186/s12917-014-0248-x.

Spread and impact of the Schmallenberg virus epidemic in France in 2012-2013

Morgane Dominguez  1 , Kristel Gache, Anne Touratier, Jean-Baptiste Perrin, Alexandre Fediaevsky, Eric Collin, Emmanuel Bréard, Corinne Sailleau, Cyril Viarouge, Gina Zanella, Stephan Zientara, Pascal Hendrikx, Didier Calavas
Affiliations

Spread and impact of the Schmallenberg virus epidemic in France in 2012-2013

Morgane Dominguez et al. BMC Vet Res. .

Abstract

Background: The Schmallenberg virus (SBV) emerged in Europe in 2011 and caused a widespread epidemic in ruminants.In France, SBV emergence was monitored through a national multi-stakeholder surveillance and investigation system. Based on the monitoring data collected from January 2012 to August 2013, we describe the spread of SBV in France during two seasons of dissemination (vector seasons 2011 and 2012) and we provide a large-scale assessment of the impact of this new disease in ruminants.

Results: SBV impact in infected herds was primarily due to the birth of stillborns or deformed foetuses and neonates. Congenital SBV morbidity level was on average moderate, although higher in sheep than in other ruminant species. On average, 8% of lambs, 3% of calves and 2% of kids born in SBV-infected herds showed typical congenital SBV deformities. In addition, in infected herds, farmers reported retrospectively a lower prolificacy during the vector season, suggesting a potential impact of acute SBV infection during mating and early stages of gestation.

Conclusions: Due to the lack of available control and prevention measures, SBV spread quickly in the naive ruminant population. France continues to monitor for SBV, and updated information is made available online on a regular basis [http://www.plateforme-esa.fr/]. Outbreaks of congenital SBV are expected to occur sporadically from now on, but further epidemics may also occur if immunity at population level declines.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
National multi-stakeholder SBV surveillance and investigation system during the initial stage of alert (France, January – August 2012).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Simplified national multi-stakeholder SBV surveillance system during the second stage of alert (France, September 2012 – August 2013).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Number of new small ruminant congenital SBV-infected herds reported per month (France, January 2012 – August 2013).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Number of new cattle congenital SBV-infected herds reported per month (France, January 2012 – August 2013).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Number of congenital SBV-infected herds reported by region during the two epidemic waves (France, January 2012 – August 2013).
Figure 6
Figure 6
Areas of concentration of congenital SBV-infected herds reported over the two epidemic waves (France, January 2012 – August 2013).
Figure 7
Figure 7
Average frequency at herd level of disorders encountered in reported congenital SBV-infected herds (France, January 2012 -August 2013, N =1,983 herds).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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