Shamonda virus (SHAV), a midge-borne disease that has been infecting cattle across Europe, has been detected in cattle on Jersey, confirming its presence in the British Isles, Agriland reported, citing the UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) confirmed the detection this week; the animals showed clinical signs consistent with those seen elsewhere in Europe. APHA said the finding puts the virus close to Great Britain and highlights "the potential for further spread across north-west Europe". Suspected and confirmed cases have so far been reported in France, Switzerland, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Austria.

SHAV belongs to the same group of viruses as Schmallenberg virus and is thought to be spread mainly by Culicoides biting midges. In cattle it causes fever, diarrhoea, lethargy and reduced milk production, and abortions have been recorded.

Although it has been found mainly in cattle, the virus has also been identified in sheep, goats, alpacas and horses in several European countries, including horses with neurological disease in Germany and Switzerland. Germany's Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut has warned that the European variant differs genetically from strains previously found in Africa and Asia, and that midge transmission "makes implementing prevention and control measures difficult".

SHAV is not a notifiable disease in the UK, but APHA is encouraging vets to investigate livestock and equine cases with compatible clinical signs and says diagnostic testing is available through the agency. The report was written by the Agriland Technical Team.

Photo: Scott Bauer, USDA ARS / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

Source: Agriland