Preliminary Survey on the Impact of S chmallenberg Virus on Sheep Flocks in South of B elgium

Summary Between late F ebruary and M ay 2012, a preliminary anonym survey was conducted among sheep farmers in south of B elgium in order to contribute to future estimations of the economic losses caused by S chmallenberg virus ( SBV ). Based on clinical signs consistent with SBV infection, this survey involved 13 meat sheep flocks considered as positive flocks with subsequent SBV detection by RT ‐q PCR [ SBV ‐positive flocks ( PF ); total of 961 animals], and 13 meat sheep flocks considered as negative flocks ( NF ; total of 331 animals). These preliminary results indicated several significant characteristics that were more present in PF than in NF . These include an increased rate of abortions (6.7% in PF versus 3.2% in NF ), of lambs born at term but presenting malformations (10.1% in PF versus 2.0% in NF ) and of dystocia (10.1% in PF versus 3.4% in NF ). Lamb mortality during the first week of life was reported more frequently in PF (8 of 13 PF , 61.5%) than in NF (1 of 13 NF , 7.7%). In PF , the observed prolificacy rate was 2‐fold lower (93%) than expected (186%). The implementation of a survey at larger scale, including a high number of breeders, is necessary to allow a more detailed analysis of the SBV impact in the sheep sector.