Download Schmallenberg virus in imported live animals and germplasm - Rapid risk assessment (February 2013)

A new disease causing fever, reduced milk production, diarrhoea, and abortion emerged in Germany in August 2011. A virus was demonstrated by a newly developed real-time RT-PCR and named Schmallenberg virus (SBV), according to the location where the disease was first described. Since then, disease caused by SBV has been reported throughout Europe.

Horizontal transmission of SBV requires the presence of a competent vector. The only known vectors are Culicoides spp. A Culicoides surveillance programme has been operating in New Zealand since 1991. Sentinel cattle are monitored for seroconversion to viruses transmitted by Culicoides spp. To date, no seroconversion has been detected in sentinel cattle and no Culicoides have been trapped. As there is no evidence of a competent vector in New Zealand, it can be concluded that if SBV were introduced into New Zealand with imported viraemic live animals, the disease would be unable to establish. Although recent evidence indicates SBV may be found in the semen of infected bulls, foetal malformations are only likely to occur if a foetus is infected at a vulnerable stage of pregnancy, estimated to be between day 28 and day 50 of pregnancy in sheep, in cattle between day 62 and day 110, and in goats around day 40. It is therefore very unlikely that foetal malformations would be seen in progeny derived from infected germplasm.

This assessment concludes that there is no justification for any additional risk management measures against SBV in the import health standards for live animals or their germplasm from any country.