A new midge-borne virus that has been infecting cattle across Europe has been detected in cattle in the British Isles.

According to the UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Shamonda virus (SHAV), which is thought to be primarily spread by Culicoides biting midges, has been identified in cattle in Jersey.

SHAV belongs to the same group of viruses as Schmallenberg virus (SBV) and mainly affects cattle, causing fever, diarrhoea, lethargy and reduced milk production.

Abortions have also been documented in infected cattle.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) this week confirmed that SHAV had been detected in cattle in Jersey. The cattle showed clinical signs consistent with those seen elsewhere in Europe.

APHA said this detection confirms the virus is present in the British Isles and in close proximity to Great Britain and highlights "the potential for further spread across north-west Europe".

To date, suspected and confirmed cases of the virus have been reported in France, Switzerland, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Austria.

But the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI) in Germany has warned that the European variant of the Shamonda virus displays some genetic differences from SHAV strains that had been previously found in Africa and Asia.

The FLI has warned that because the virus is transmitted by midges this "makes implementing prevention and control measures difficult".

Cattle

According to APHA, although the disease has been detected primarily in cattle, the virus has also been identified in sheep, goats, alpacas, and horses in several European countries.

SHAV has also been detected in horses with neurological disease, including cases identified in Germany and Switzerland. 

Currently SHAV is not a notifiable disease in the UK but APHA is now encouraging close investigation of livestock and equine cases showing clinical signs compatible with SHAV infection.

It has also advised that diagnostic testing has been developed and is available through APHA to support investigations of this nature.