Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

Failure to detect Schmallenberg Virus in ram semen in the UK (2016-2018)

Curwen, Alice; Jones, S.; Stayley, Ceri; Eden, Laura; McKay, Heather; Davies, P.; Lovatt, Fiona; Dunham, Stephen; Tarlinton, Rachael

Failure to detect Schmallenberg Virus in ram semen in the UK (2016-2018) Thumbnail


Authors

S. Jones

Ceri Stayley

Laura Eden

Heather McKay

P. Davies

FIONA LOVATT FIONA.LOVATT@NOTTINGHAM.AC.UK
Clinical Associate Professor



Abstract

Background
Schmallenberg virus is a midge borne arbovirus that first emerged in the European ruminant population in 2011 and has since settled to an endemic pattern of disease The impacts of trade restrictions on genetic products (semen, embryos) from affected areas were severe, particularly after the discovery that the virus is intermittendly shed in the semen of a small number of bulls. The trade in small ruminant (ram and goat) semen is less than that of bulls, nonetheless there has been no study into the shedding rate of SBV in ram semen.

Methods
This study tested semen samples (n=65) collected as part of UK ram trials and artificial insemination studies around the period of the 2016-18 Schmallenberg re-circulation. Semen was preserved in RNAlater for shipping with RNA extraction and S gene RT-qPCR performed for Schmallenberg virus nucleic acid detection

Results
No Schmallenberg Virus Virus RNA was detected in any samples.

Conclusions
While larger numbers of animals would be needed to completely exclude the possibility of SBV shedding in ram semen this trial nonetheless highlights that this is likely a very rare event if it occurs at all and is unlikely to play a role in disease transmission.

Citation

Curwen, A., Jones, S., Stayley, C., Eden, L., McKay, H., Davies, P., …Tarlinton, R. (2022). Failure to detect Schmallenberg Virus in ram semen in the UK (2016-2018). Veterinary Record Open, 9(1), Article e39. https://doi.org/10.1002/vro2.39

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date May 12, 2022
Online Publication Date Jun 20, 2022
Publication Date 2022-12
Deposit Date May 16, 2022
Publicly Available Date Jun 20, 2022
Journal Veterinary Record Open
Electronic ISSN 2052-6113
Publisher BMJ Publishing Group
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 9
Issue 1
Article Number e39
DOI https://doi.org/10.1002/vro2.39
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/8129400
Publisher URL https://bvajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/vro2.39

Files





You might also like



Downloadable Citations