Schmallenberg virus disease: molecular biology and clinical presentation (review)

Schmallenberg virus has been tentatively assigned to the family Bunyaviridae in the genus Orthobunyavirus, the serogroup Simbu. It has a negative-stranded tripartite RNA genome comprising large (L), medium (M), and small (S) segments and is mainly transmitted via the bite of insect vectors, in particular, Culicoides midges. The infection is manifested as diarrhea, pyrexia, milk drop in adult animals (cows, sheep, goats) and congenital malformations in offspring and stillbirths following infection during gestation. This review describes issues related to possible origins of the virus, pathogenesis, genetic properties, diagnostics, prevention and epidemiological situation in EU countries.