The virus has landed. Coming to a farm near you soon.

mf240

Conmaicne Mara wrote: »

I get your point but not good enough from the minister, one contributor to the programme lost 25% of his lambs due to the virus.

No matter what he said he wouldn't of done himself any favours.
He has nothing to offer farmers by way of compensation, and the full ins and outs of the disease are only coming to the fore.

Vetrenary advice and information is of more use to farmers than political whitewash anyway.

Conmaicne Mara

Seeing as he said nothing we don't know that. I'm not worried about him doing himself any favours, I'd prefer he took the issue more seriously when it comes up on national television.

greysides

i've noticed over the past couple of years though that the midget problem is getting much worse than it used to be. probably due to climate change but their bites now appear to be worse than ever before (judging by the more severe reaction of his skin to them these days)

That could be the allergy getting worse with time.

bb12

greysides wrote: »

That could be the allergy getting worse with time.

true could be, but i also notice their bites seem to irritate and sting me more these days too. but maybe i'm getting older myself.

greysides

bb12 wrote: »

true could be, but i also notice their bites seem to irritate and sting me more these days too. but maybe i'm getting older myself.

You and me both............. the thought me that having your 'skin crawl' was not just a figure of speech.

rancher

mf240 wrote: »

No matter what he said he wouldn't of done himself any favours.
He has nothing to offer farmers by way of compensation, and the full ins and outs of the disease are only coming to the fore.

Vetrenary advice and information is of more use to farmers than political whitewash anyway.

I think it looks hopeless until we get a vaccine. Vet advice would be a waste of money, get out the lambs the best way you can seems to be the only advice,

Lastin

What price will a vaccine retail at ? With regard to the ministers no reply to ettg he is more worried that he might have to pay overtime if he agrees there is a problem and has to get staff to work on it. However we are losing a trick in not recording all cases and using this information in combating this disease

greysides

rancher wrote: »

I think it looks hopeless until we get a vaccine.

By the time the vaccine has gone through the regulation process (summer) I doubt there will be a county in Ireland that hasn't been exposed.

speedtheplough

we had another ewe aborted today,i would say the full extent wont b known for a couple ov weeks as a lot of flocks are only starting to lamb now..

munkus

Talking to a lad in Athenry Co Op the last day who said that a local farmer has lost a good few lambs to it already. Was hoping that it could take longer than that to move up west.

Henwin

would spraying a fly repellant/midge spray on the cattle during breeding season have any benefical result to combatting the problem i wonder??

greysides

Henwin wrote: »

would spraying a fly repellant/midge spray on the cattle during breeding season have any benefical result to combatting the problem i wonder??

It will make you feel better and lighten your pocket................... I don't think any insect repellents are known/expected to work. A vaccine would be a better bet, if there's any doubt of exposure by the time the breeding season starts.

valtra2

well just comfermed that cow that aborted had sbv, she was due start of next month,

Bodacious

munkus wrote: »

Talking to a lad in Athenry Co Op the last day who said that a local farmer has lost a good few lambs to it already. Was hoping that it could take longer than that to move up west.

any confirmed cattle cases... im thinking with bvd tagging etc white card for knackery, costs etc there will be calves but they will get buried and cases not confirmed/sampled/brought forward

pakalasa

valtra2 wrote: »

well just comfermed that cow that aborted had sbv, she was due start of next month,

I see back in page 2, that you had to specifically request the lab to test for SBV. That's madness. You'd think now that they would be testing all abortions for SBV.

What part of the country are you in?

munkus

Bodacious wrote: »

any confirmed cattle cases... im thinking with bvd tagging etc white card for knackery, costs etc there will be calves but they will get buried and cases not confirmed/sampled/brought forward

Not so far that I'm aware of. That sheep farmer probably bought in sheep from south.

valtra2

in south east, live in the area that has been shown on ear to ground with the sbv in sheep, its a bit hit and miss here but there is cases all around, but the later lambing sheep have not been affected as bad as far as i can see, its in cows too have heard lots of lads talking about deformed calfs but they dont report them, dep vet is out this week to blood aborted cow for brusualois, will quiz him up on it, cow that aborted was due next month so not lookig forward to next months calfs, 32 cows calfed here so far all ok exept one stillborn and that one that aborted

Bodacious

valtra2 wrote: »

in south east, live in the area that has been shown on ear to ground with the sbv in sheep, its a bit hit and miss here but there is cases all around, but the later lambing sheep have not been affected as bad as far as i can see, its in cows too have heard lots of lads talking about deformed calfs but they dont report them, dep vet is out this week to blood aborted cow for brusualois, will quiz him up on it, cow that aborted was due next month so not lookig forward to next months calfs, 32 cows calfed here so far all ok exept one stillborn and that one that aborted

Im in the west and ive heard of only one deformed calf, could be nothing but chances are people are not going to put the calf/calves into the system for testing to confirm

Min

I had a heifer calve this evening, the calf has a deformed neck in that his head is turned to one side and he is unable to straighten it up, so it can't stand up.
Getting vet tomorrow to investigate.
She calved six days early. I am sure it is Schmallenberg virus.

valtra2

that is what i am hearing about calfs, there heads are unable to straigten and front lgs are wonky,

Blue Holland

Had a cow abort today, was due 22 march, vet had bit of job gettin calf out, front legs pulled apart, head bent back, there was a hell of lot of fluid as well. He said there was no doubt it was Schmallenberg. Cow does'nt seem any worse. Two thirds calved, all spring, all perfectly healthy and goin well till today. Hope it's not start of it. Vet said they have Schmallenberg in 7 herds and almost all sheep men have it. Local sheep men have it but have'nt heard of anyone close by with it in calves.

Min

Blue Holland wrote: »

Had a cow abort today, was due 22 march, vet had bit of job gettin calf out, front legs pulled apart, head bent back, there was a hell of lot of fluid as well. He said there was no doubt it was Schmallenberg. Cow does'nt seem any worse. Two thirds calved, all spring, all perfectly healthy and goin well till today. Hope it's not start of it. Vet said they have Schmallenberg in 7 herds and almost all sheep men have it. Local sheep men have it but have'nt heard of anyone close by with it in calves.

Yeah I had a lot of fluid with mine too. It will be a relief for many when the calving/lambing season is over.

Username John

Not due to start lambing for another week (1st March)

One ewe expecting triplets threw out half a foetus yesterday morning, fished out 2 other lambs in a few bits out of her...
Hogget this morning put out o load o blood, had a look, smell made it clear we had the same issue... Had to get the vet, caesarian, two dead lambs (one very bad)
Will send em into the lab for tests...

Another hogget is acting a bit odd as well, afraid we'll have the same issues there...

Not a good start...

rancher

Username John wrote: »

Not due to start lambing for another week (1st March)

One ewe expecting triplets threw out half a foetus yesterday morning, fished out 2 other lambs in a few bits out of her...
Hogget this morning put out o load o blood, had a look, smell made it clear we had the same issue... Had to get the vet, caesarian, two dead lambs (one very bad)
Will send em into the lab for tests...

Another hogget is acting a bit odd as well, afraid we'll have the same issues there...

Not a good start...

I always say that the rubbish ones come at the start, hope that's what it is with you........on saying that it doesn't look great, as I told you earler,I had to put down five deformed lambs in my first ten lambings and they were negative for scmallenberg, hopefully yours will be the same

greysides

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21609335


A vaccine for SBV is being developed but has not yet been approved for use in the UK.


The Veterinary Medicine Directorate (VMD) said it was considering data on the vaccine but it was not possible to provide an indication of when it might be authorised.

"The VMD recognises the impact on individual animals and farmers a disease such as Schmallenberg can have," it said in a statement.

"The VMD will operate timelines for the remaining stages of consideration of the application mindful of this while ensuring, through our rigorous scientific assessment process, that proper care is taken to ensure that any vaccine is safe for the relevant livestock. "

greysides

A bit extra:


http://www.farminglife.com/news/schmallenberg-vaccine-could-be-on-the-way-1-4835179



Published on Thursday 28 February 2013 08:50

THE Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has taken the unprecedented step of confirming that it is considering an application by MSD for its ‘Bovilis SBV’ vaccine, as a means of providing protection against the Schmallenberg virus within herds and flocks.

The news comes as significant numbers of sheep producers in Counties Cork, Waterford and Wexford are reporting large scale losses within this year’s lamb crop – all attributed to the Schmallenberg virus.

A spokesperson for the VMD said: “For reasons of commercial confidentiality the VMD is not usually able to comment on whether or not it has received a specific application for a veterinary medicine, equally it is unable to comment on the progression of a particular application.
However, in view of the considerable media interest surrounding MSD’s application for a Provisional Marketing Authorisation for Bovilis SBV and in order to avoid any misconceptions, MSD has agreed that the VMD can share the following information regarding the progression of their application:

“VMD received an application for a Provisional Marketing Authorisation at the end of August 2012

“Following provision of further data so that the application was complete it passed validation mid-September 2012.

“The VMD completed its initial assessment and sent questions to the company towards the end of November 2012.

MSD provided responses to questions at the end of January 2013 and these are currently being assessed by the VMD.

“Despite the good progress, at this stage it is not possible to provide an indication of when the vaccine may be authorised. The VMD recognises the impact on individual animals and farmers a disease such as Schmallenberg can have.

“The VMD will operate timelines for the remaining stages of consideration of the application mindful of this while ensuring, through our rigorous scientific assessment process, that proper care is taken to ensure that any vaccine is safe for the relevant livestock.”

bb12

heard that the trials for the vaccination they had developed had collapsed and they have to start over..no sign of a vaccine in sight yet.

greysides

bb12 wrote: »

heard that the trials for the vaccination they had developed had collapsed and they have to start over..no sign of a vaccine in sight yet.

Have you a source for that info as this was the best I could find on the subject on-line?

http://www.farminguk.com/news/Schmallenberg-vaccine-proposed-amid-fresh-fears_25033.html

21-02-2013 10:43 AM

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has said it is considering an application by MSD Animal Health for its Scmallenberg virus vaccine Bovilis SBV.

Though the date of its commercial release is unknown, the executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said MSD submitted the application at the end of August.

The results of several studies were presented at a symposium on the virus during the 6th Annual Meeting of EPIZONE (an international network of veterinary research institutes working on epizootic animal diseases), which took place in Brighton in last June.

The vaccine is based on wild-type Schmallenberg virus that has been inactivated and contains an adjuvant that stimulates the immune response.

The virus continues to cause concern as the lambing and calving season progresses causing widespread interest in the development of the vaccine.

"In our studies we looked at the serological response as well as viremia and we have now reported that all vaccinated animals responded with formation of virus neutralizing antibodies" said Veronique Moulin, research scientist at the virological R&D department at MSD Animal Health.

"During the trials, all vaccinated animals were protected against Schmallenberg virus infection (complete blockage of viremia), whereas all controls developed viremia after challenge. Moreover, we found a good correlation between antibody titers and viremia."

munkus

So what was the real impact of the virus this spring?


How widespread were cases and how geographically dispersed. There seemed to be a few reports in February but looks to have had less of an impact then people feared.

greysides

In the South-East, lots of reports of deformed lambs in Dec and January. A few deformed calves in March. This month and May will really tell the tale for calves.

Lots of tales of cows empty or of cows that were previously scanned/known to be well in-calf turning up empty.

Some reports of calves being born lack-lustre or just stillborn.

greysides

Not good news and has implications for vaccine production:

http://microbepost.org/2013/05/14/schmallenberg-in-sheep-a-variable-virus/

The researchers are now investigating the differences between the viruses in this study and those taken from the flock after a second infection that occurred a year later. That SBV can reinfect a previously exposed population suggests that it has changed enough to avoid the immune system. This is bad news, particularly as no vaccine yet exists.

freedominacup

greysides wrote: »

Not good news and has implications for vaccine production:

http://microbepost.org/2013/05/14/schmallenberg-in-sheep-a-variable-virus/

Are at least some of mine after vacccinating themselves.
We got a result of 235.413 on the ELISA test in the bulk milk screening. I don't know how many units of what the 235 refers to but it was put down as a hipos.

greysides

A key building block in the Schmallenberg virus could be targeted by anti-viral drugs, according to a new study led from the University of Leeds.

http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/1112825734/study-identifies-chink-in-the-armor-of-schmallenberg-virus/

Co-lead Dr Tom Edwards, also from Leeds’ Faculty of Biological Sciences, said: “The shape of the nucleocapsid protein has shown us important details of how the individual proteins in these rings are interacting. This not only tells us how the virus works, but importantly we think we can block that interaction and disrupt the process of making the ring. That could be the chink in its armor. It would stop the protein wrapping up the RNA, and would essentially kill the virus. We are now designing small molecules that could block ring formation and could therefore be an effective antiviral drug.”

Aru

UK - Bovilis® SBV to Ship in United Kingdom in Coming Weeks24 May 2013
MSD Animal Health announced today that the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) of the United Kingdom has granted the company a provisional marketing authorisation for Bovilis® SBV, the first vaccine specifically targeting the Schmallenberg virus (SBV) in cattle and sheep.

SBV, which emerged in late 2011, is transmitted via insect vectors, mainly midges and causes transient clinical symptoms in adult cattle and sheep, such as fever, diarrhoea and reduced milk yield, as well as congenital malformation in newborn calves and lambs. As of March 31st 2013, 1753 cases of SBV had been confirmed throughout the UK. SBV has now been detected in every county in England and Wales.

“On behalf of Merck MSD, we would like to thank the VMD for its partnership and support to fast track the availability of Bovilis® SBV to the market,” said Andras Bolcskei, Country Manager, MSD Animal Health UK. “There was a tremendous urgency for a SBV vaccine in the UK especially given the marked increase in confirmed cases over the past year and the increasing importance to help control this devastating disease.”

Studies conducted by MSD Animal Health in support of the provisional marketing authorisation reported that all animals responded with formation of virus neutralizing antibodies. During the studies, reduced viraemia against SBV was observed in sheep vaccinated once and prevention of viraemia was observed in cattle vaccinated twice, whereas all animals in the control groups developed infection and became viraemic. In studies to date, Bovilis® SBV has been shown to be efficacious in cattle and sheep.

The vaccine is based on wild-type SBV that has been inactivated and contains an adjuvant that stimulates the immune response. The vaccine will be available in 20ml and 100ml vials. Bovilis® SBV is indicated for the active immunisation of cattle to prevent viraemia against SBV and for the active immunisation of sheep to reduce viraemia against SBV.

MSD Animal Health will continue to provide resources and services for the latest disease research. According to KJ Varma, Senior Vice President, Research & Development, MSD Animal Health. “We are committed to working closely with the livestock community to ensure the well-being of their animals.”

MSD Animal Health is working diligently to expedite stocks to the UK. Farmers interested in more information about the vaccine should contact their veterinary surgeon.

from this link
http://www.meattradenewsdaily.co.uk/news/210513/uk___bovilis_sbv_to_ship_in_united_kingdom_in_coming_weeks.aspx

Lastin

Greysides are there any cases that you know of where testicles have not developed properly in calves or lambs due to sbv?

greysides

Lastin wrote: »

Greysides are there any cases that you know of where testicles have not developed properly in calves or lambs due to sbv?

I don't know of any cases.

I doubt that there would be any as the only tissues known to be infected by SBV are the nervous system and uterus (that may change as it's still early days in investigating this virus).

In a sense the immune could be added to that list but whether the best word to describe it's effect would be 'infected' or 'affected', I don't know.

Any infection that causes a decent immune response is going to temporarily open the door a little wider to other micro-organisms in any event.

greysides

Aru wrote: »

During the studies, reduced viraemia against SBV was observed in sheep vaccinated once and prevention of viraemia was observed in cattle vaccinated twice................................... In studies to date, Bovilis® SBV has been shown to be efficacious in cattle and sheep.


Bovilis® SBV is indicated for the active immunisation of cattle to prevent viraemia against SBV and for the active immunisation of sheep to reduce viraemia against SBV.

I wonder what's the story behind those differences..... prevention v. reduction, once v. twice?

Essentially, is reducing the viraemia sufficient to prevent deformities and what would be the result of vaccinating sheep twice? Is it a decision based on cost or is there a difference in the species response to the vaccine that sheep don't respond as well?

The last big unknown is whether it is necessary to vaccine if your herd/flock/area has already had SBV go through it?
Time will tell.

It will also tell whether the vaccine is able to cope with the genetic changes the virus is able to perform so readily.

greysides

Study Shows High Exposure to Schmallenberg Virus on Northern Ireland Farms

Farms in Northern Ireland have a much higher exposure to the Schmallenberg virus than originally thought, according to the results of a study carried out in recent months.

The study was carried out by the AFBI (Agri-Food and Bioscience Institute) at Stormont and sponsored by MSD Animal Health. It involved tests on 601 herds across all 10 district veterinary office (DVO) regions in the north.

The results showed that 11% of herds tested positive for the virus. However, there was huge variation in the level of exposure between DVO regions. The Newry and Newtownards regions in the south east had by far the highest exposure, with 48% and 38% respectively of farms involved testing positive to the virus.

Exposure in five other regions was at lower levels, ranging from 2% to 13% while the remaining three regions, Enniskillen, Ballymena and Omagh, had no herds exposed to the virus.

Mairead O Grady of MSD Animal Health said that while just four cases of Schmallenberg have been diagnosed in Northern Ireland to date, this study shows that the risk of infection is much higher and, based on the experience in the UK, farmers across the north are in real danger of being infected with the virus.

“In the UK, the first case was identified in the south east of England in early 2012 and by the end of March last it was identified in around 1,800 farms across all counties of England and Wales.

“The first case in Northern Ireland was on a farm in Banbridge, Co Down in October 2012. Three further cases have since been confirmed on farms near Downpatrick and Newry,” said Mairead O Grady.

She said there is a strong likelihood of the virus spreading across Northern Ireland this summer. Midges, which spread the disease, are at their most potent between April and November and can travel at least 20 miles a day.

“The disease can cause abortions and deformities in calves and lambs. The critical risk period for cows is between days 40 and 140 of pregnancy and for sheep between days 20 and 80 of pregnancy. The most seriously affected farms in England had more than 50% of lambs with foetal abnormalities.

“While insecticides such as Butox are effective in controlling midges, they cannot be relied on to prevent midges from transmitting the virus. Vaccination is the only effective option for the control of the disease. Bovilis SBV is the only vaccine for the control of Schmallenberg in cattle and sheep. The recommended dosage is one 2ml injection subcutaneously in sheep three weeks prior to mating and two 2ml injections four weeks apart in cows.

greysides

US CONCERNS ABOUT THE SPREAD OF SBV......

A University of Wyoming researcher is warning domestic livestock producers to be on the lookout for a new virus that has been decimating cattle, goats and sheep in Europe.

Rob Cordery-Cotter is an assistant research scientist in UW’s Department of Animal Science. He was a visiting research scientist at the University of Nottingham School of Veterinary Medicine and Science in the United Kingdom when he saw firsthand the effects of the virus on flocks of sheep and herds of cattle.

SBV has moved through the British Isles, down the Iberian coast and now is in Russia, Turkey, the Baltics and other eastern European counties.

“It’s hammering the producers over there,” Cordery-Cotter said.

There has been no indication the virus has spread to the United States, but Cordery-Cotter wants livestock producers to be alert to the danger.

If producers see severely deformed lambs, he said, they should let the veterinarian know about it and not just throw the carcass into a trash bin.

“Although SBV virus is not in the U.S., there is a lingering unease that something like it could appear,” he said.

Meanwhile, no one knows for sure where the virus came from, although one theory traces it to Africa, Cordery-Cotter said.

It’s possible SBV was transmitted by an infected midge from Africa, perhaps brought to Europe in cut flowers. Many cut flowers from Africa are sold in European supermarkets and are kept in the cool, moist environments the midges like.

Cordery-Cotter said it’s possible the virus could come into the U.S. in a shipping container or in the hold of an airliner.

He said it’s pretty much agreed on that the virus doesn’t infect humans, dogs, cats and coyotes. In Europe, it is also present in bison, alpacas and various deer species.

http://trib.com/business/university-of-wyoming-researcher-warns-of-virus-decimating-european-livestock/article_59641275-5dc4-5f96-b492-04c7c4496955.html

greysides

Schmallenberg warning

http://www.fwi.co.uk/articles/10/06/2013/139453/north-sheep-2013-schmallenberg-warning.htm

Schmallenberg virus is spreading north very quickly, according to vet Fiona Lovatt. "There have even been deformed lambs born during the month of May, which tells us infected midges were active in December and January. And we know that a midge can carry 10 times more Schmallenberg virus compared with bluetongue."

Immunity to Schmallenberg is very variable, farmers were told. There was an assumption that once a flock had suffered from the disease about 90% of that flock would be protected. But further studies in Germany and Holland have shown that figure to be much lower - around 36%. "It's very difficult to talk about levels of protection after sheep have been infected because we still know very little about the disease, but it's looking like at least 50% of sheep affected are still at risk from the disease in future years."

Sheep can now be vaccinated against Schmallenberg virus from four months old and will be fully protected after three weeks. So far the advice is not to vaccinate in-lamb ewes and breeding tups.

"Sheep producers considering vaccinating against the disease should talk to their vet well ahead of tupping time," advised Dr Lovatt.