Schmallenberg Virus

Abstract

Schmallenberg virus (SBV) is an orthobunyavirus that was first identified using a metagenomic approach from dairy cattle near the town of Schmallenberg in Germany in October 2011. The virus causes fever, diarrhea, and a drop in milk yield in ruminants, as well as congenital malformations and stillbirths in calves, lambs, and goat kids. Since its initial description, SBV has been reported in thousands of cattle, sheep, and goat farms across Europe [1].