SBV reported in Aberdeenshire
A case of Schmallenberg (SBV) has been confirmed on a farm outside Aberdeen, the furthest north that the disease has yet been seen.
A severely deformed calf was born to a homebred suckler heifer, requiring assistance from the vet during the calving.
SBV was confirmed following a post mortem by SAC Consulting, Veterinary Services, part of Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), and further virology and pathology tests by scientists at the Moredun Institute.
Previously, cases of SBV in Scotland have only been seen in Dumfries and Galloway. It is believed that the virus was introduced by store cattle from Dumfriesshire last Autumn.
Midges may have spread the virus from store cattle to the homebred stock whilst the cattle were housed during winter last year.
The SRUC is advising farmers to contact their vet or local disease surveillance centre (DSC) if they encounter any foetal abnormalities, stillbirths or newborns showing signs of nervous disease.
However, the college warns that the above defects can also be caused by other diseases, and it is important to determine the cause before making assumptions that SBV is responsible.
SBV has caused serious sheep and cattle losses on some farms across England, Wales, Ireland and continental Europe.
A vaccine developed by MSD Animal Health was approved in May this year by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD). Bovilis SBV is expected to become available across the UK from summer 2013.
With Strangles Awareness Week just around the corner (5-11 May), vets are being encouraged to share a survey about the disease with their horse-owning clients.
