Survey to determine the prevalence of Schmallenberg virus induced abortions in small ruminants and cattle in Türkiye

Objective: Domestic ruminants such as cattle, sheep, and goats are the primary hosts of Schmallenberg virus (SBV), which is transmitted by hematophagous insect vectors. Although adult animals may display non-specific clinical signs, SBV infection can lead to abortion without congenital malformations. The impact of SBV on abortion of cattle, sheep, and goats in Türkiye remains uncertain. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of SBV-induced abortion without congenital malformations in small ruminants and cattle. Materials and Methods: Aborted foetuses without congenital anomalies from 492 cattle, 1144 sheep, and 82 goats were collected from different flocks and herds in the Mediterranean, Aegean, and Central Anatolian regions of Türkiye from 2012 to 2017. To detect SBV-specific RNA in aborted foetuses, a real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay was used. Results: SBV-specific RNA was not detected in foetuses of cattle and small ruminants. Conclusion: Based on literature, this study is considered to be the longest-period study investigating the role of SBV in abortions in small ruminants and cattle. Since only provinces from three regions of Türkiye were studied, the results of the present study are limited to these studied regions. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct studies to determine the prevalence of SBV in abortion cases of small ruminants and cattle throughout the entire country.