First confirmation of schmallenberg virus in cattle in Spain: tissue distribution and pathology

Between January and June 2013, nine stillborn bovine foetuses with congenital malformations from nine cattle herds located in Salamanca (central Spain) were detected. Necropsy was performed on two calves. Pathological lesions together with molecular genetics and serological results allowed a definitive diagnosis: first confirmation of Schmallenberg virus (SBV) infection in cattle in Spain. SBV was detected in different tissues and organic fluids in both animals including blood, suggesting a possible viraemia. The umbilical cord was also positive for the presence of SBV in both animals. The former tissue provides an easy to obtain sample and might be a sample of choice when necropsy is carried out in the field.This paper was partially funded by a Grant from INIA-RTA2011-00010-00-00 (FEDER-Cofinantiated). We would like to thank G. Belver and S. Morales for their kind help and support. We also thank Dr. Kevin Dalton for critically reviewing the manuscript. A. Balseiro is a recipient of a 'Contrato de Investigacion para Doctores' from INIA (Spain).Peer Reviewe