Schmallenberg Virus Infection Suspected in a Calf Born to an Imported Heifer
July 2021
in “
Veterinary record/The veterinary record
”
TLDR A calf in Scotland likely had Schmallenberg virus from its mother.
In May 2021, Scotland's Rural College Veterinary Services (SRUC VS) reported a suspected Schmallenberg virus (SBV) infection in a calf born to an imported heifer, which showed clinical signs and histopathological lesions typical of SBV, despite the absence of SBV RNA detection. Seroconversion in the dam confirmed SBV exposure. Other notable cases included congenital goitre and alopecia in a salers calf, Swaledale encephalopathy in lambs, and various parasitic, systemic, alimentary, reproductive, musculoskeletal, and skin conditions in livestock. A stillborn calf from a 140-cow herd was investigated for congenital alopecia, revealing hypothyroidism with hyperplastic goitre and low thyroid iodine content, suggesting a genetic inability to synthesize thyroid hormones in salers cattle. Additional findings included hypomyelination, hepatic vacuolation in a lamb due to low cobalt, clostridial enterotoxaemia in lambs, and C. difficile-associated enterotoxaemia in piglets. Avian tuberculosis was diagnosed in a buzzard and a duck, and a mountain hare was found with a high strongyle egg count and numerous parasites.
