Simbu Viruses' Infection of Livestock in Israel-A Transient Climatic Land

Abstract

Important lessons have been learned by the Israeli veterinary community regarding Simbu serogroup viruses infections. This serogroup of viruses might cause the births of neonatal malformation in susceptible ruminant's populations. Until 2012, only Akabane virus was connected with the births of malformed ruminants in Israel. However, serological and genomic detection tests, coupled with viral isolations, revealed that more than a single Simbu serogroup serotype could be present concurrently in the same farm or even in the same animal. From 2012 to date, Aino, Shuni, Shamunda, Satuperi, Peaton, Schmallenberg, and Sango viruses have been found in Israel either by serological or genomic investigation. Israel is located in the Eastern Mediterranean Basin, a terrestrial and climatic bridge between the three old continents. The Eastern Mediterranean shores benefit from both the tropical/subtropical and the continental climatic conditions. Therefore, the Eastern Mediterranean basin might serve as an optimal investigatory compound for several arboviral diseases, acting as a sentinel. This review summarizes updated information related to the presence of Simbu serogroup viruses in Israel.

Keywords: Culicoides; Mediterranean basin; Orthobunyavirus; Simbu viruses; emerging disease.

Figure 1

Schematic demonstration of the various climatic zones in Israel.

Figure 2

This figure describes the dichotomy of arthrogryposis hydranencephaly syndrome appearances in 2002 due to the Akabane virus attack in 2001 in the northern regions. The sequels of the second attack were observed in 2003 in the southern regions only as the virus spread southward during 2002 (the counter expected direction). AKAV, AINOV: Akabane and Aino virus, respectively.

Figure 3

This figure portrays the arthrogryposis hydranencephaly syndrome reported in 2012 linked to Akabane virus (AKAV) infections in 2011.

Figure 4

These figures show the anamnestic Simbu viruses reactive sera of adult milking cows born before 2010 (a) and heifers seroconverted in 2013 summer-early autumn (b). AKA, AINO, PEA, SAT, SHAV, SHU: Akabane, Aino, Peaton, Satuperi, Shamunda, Shuni, viruses.

Figure 4

These figures show the anamnestic Simbu viruses reactive sera of adult milking cows born before 2010 (a) and heifers seroconverted in 2013 summer-early autumn (b). AKA, AINO, PEA, SAT, SHAV, SHU: Akabane, Aino, Peaton, Satuperi, Shamunda, Shuni, viruses.

Figure 5

This figure shows the infected sites of arthrogryposis hydranencephaly syndrome associated with Shuni-virus (SHUV) in 2014/2015 and 2018/2019.

Figure 6

This figure shows the Simbu infected sites detected by genomic tests between 2016 and 2019. PEA, SHU, SAT: Peaton, Shuni, Satuperi viruses, respectively. (Schmallenberg virus is not shown. See Figure 7).

Figure 7

This figure shows the Schmallenberg virus (SBV) infected sites detected from 2018 to date.