A broad spectrum screening of Schmallenberg virus antibodies in wildlife animals in Germany

Vet Res. 2015 Sep 23;46(1):99. doi: 10.1186/s13567-015-0232-x.

Abstract

To identify native wildlife species possibly susceptible to infection with Schmallenberg virus (SBV), a midge-transmitted orthobunyavirus that predominantly infects domestic ruminants, samples from various free-living ruminants, but also carnivores, small mammals and wild boar were analyzed serologically. Before 2011, no SBV-specific antibodies were detectable in any of the tested species, thereafter, a large proportion of the ruminant population became seropositive, while every sample taken from carnivores or small mammals tested negative. Surprisingly, SBV-specific-antibodies were also present in a large number of blood samples from wild boar during the 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 hunting seasons. Hence, free-ranging artiodactyls may play a role as wildlife host.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Wild*
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood*
  • Artiodactyla
  • Bunyaviridae Infections / epidemiology
  • Bunyaviridae Infections / veterinary*
  • Bunyaviridae Infections / virology
  • Carnivora
  • Germany / epidemiology
  • Orthobunyavirus / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral