The newly-emerging midge-borne Shamonda virus has been detected in Ireland.

It is understood that a private lab in the south of the country detected the virus in samples from cattle on farms in the region.

The virus was detected in samples from three animals on two farms.

It is understood that the farms in question were dairy farms.

Suspicions of an animal health issue on these farms were raised when a drop in milk yield was noticed.

Agriland understands that testing on other samples is ongoing, and that additional detections of Shamonda virus are likely.

Shamonda virus

The new midge-borne virus has been infecting cattle across Europe, and has recently been detected in cattle in the British Isles.

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

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

Abortions have also been documented in infected cattle.

The virus had previously only been found in parts of Africa and in Japan before reaching Europe this year.

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine here said in August that it became aware of the virus earlier that month after the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI) in Germany confirmed its presence in cattle there.

In late July and August this year, cases were first detected in cattle in Switzerland, France, and southern Germany, according to the FLI.

Subsequently, the disease was detected amongst cattle in Austria and the Netherlands as well.

A spokesperson from the department said in August that cattle infected with the Shamonda virus show mild clinical signs, such as fever, reduced milk yield and diarrhoea.

The department said: "The most significant impact of the virus is on the unborn foetus, where infection can result in abortion or severe foetal malformation.

"In calves, malformations of the musculoskeletal system and the central nervous system have been documented to date," the department added.

The department stressed that there is currently "no evidence of Shamonda virus causing clinical disease in humans".

Similar to bluetongue, transmission of the disease occurs primarily through biting midges, although it can also be transmitted to offspring during gestation.

No vaccine is currently available for the Shamonda virus and there is no treatment to eliminate the disease in animals.

The Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut in Germany has indicated that vaccines can be developed to treat the virus, but it will require "sufficient lead time" and will depend on how significant the disease becomes across Europe.