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DISPATCHESFigure 2. Detection of Schmallenberg virus genome in the bloodof experimentally infected cattle and sheep, Germany, 2014.(14,15); further reasons for the unexpected recurrence ofSBV could be persistence within the insect vectors. Asa consequence, the infection of naive animals in autumn2014 resulted in an increasing frequency of the birth ofmalformed offspring in the following winter.AcknowledgmentsWe thank the German local diagnostic laboratories for providingthe SBV-positive samples. We are grateful to Kristin Tripplerfor excellent technical assistance. We gratefully acknowledgeAndrea Aebischer’s help with the animal experiment and thededicated animal care by staff of the isolation unit of theFriedrich-Loeffler-Institut. We also thank Andreas Moss forproviding SBV isolate D495/12-1.This work was financially supported by Boehringer IngelheimVetmedica GmbH.Dr. Wernike is a veterinarian and scientist at the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Diagnostic Virology. Her researchinterests are emerging animal viruses, molecular diagnostics,and pathogenesis.References1. Hoffmann B, Scheuch M, Höper D, Jungblut R, Holsteg M,Schirrmeier H, et al. Novel orthobunyavirus in cattle, Europe,2011. Emerg Infect Dis. 2012;18:469–72. http://dx.doi.org/10.3201/eid1803.1119052. Beer M, Conraths FJ, van der Poel WH. “Schmallenberg virus”—a novel orthobunyavirus emerging in Europe. Epidemiol Infect.2013;141:1–8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S09502688120022453. Wernike K, Conraths F, Zanella G, Granzow H, Gache K,Schirrmeier H, et al. Schmallenberg virus—two years ofexperiences. Prev Vet Med. 2014;116:423–34. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2014.03.0214. Conraths FJ, Kamer D, Teske K, Hoffmann B, Mettenleiter TC,Beer M. Reemerging Schmallenberg virus infections, Germany,2012. Emerg Infect Dis. 2013;19:513–4. http://dx.doi.org/10.3201/eid1903.1213245. Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut. Schmallenberg virus [2015 Feb 4].http://www.fli.bund.de/en/startseite/current-news/animal-diseasesituation/new-orthobunyavirus-detected-in-cattle-in-germany.html6. Macmachlan NJ, Mayo CE. Potential strategies for control of bluetongue,a globally emerging, Culicoides-transmitted viral diseaseof ruminant livestock and wildlife. Antiviral Res. 2013;99:79–90.http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.antiviral.2013.04.0217. Fischer M, Hoffmann B, Goller KV, Höper D, Wernike K, Beer M.A mutation “hot spot” in the Schmallenberg virus M segment. J GenVirol. 2013;94:1161–7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1099/vir.0.049908-08. Tamura K, Peterson D, Peterson N, Stecher G, Nei M, Kumar S.MEGA5: molecular evolutionary genetics analysis using maximumlikelihood, evolutionary distance, and maximum parsimonymethods. Mol Biol Evol. 2011;28:2731–9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msr1219. Coupeau D, Claine F, Wiggers L, Kirschvink N, Muylkens B.In vivo and in vitro identification of a hypervariable region inSchmallenberg virus. J Gen Virol. 2013;94:1168–74.http://dx.doi.org/10.1099/vir.0.051821-010. Kobayashi T, Yanase T, Yamakawa M, Kato T, Yoshida K,Tsuda T. Genetic diversity and reassortments among Akabanevirus field isolates. Virus Res. 2007;130:162–71. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.virusres.2007.06.00711. Bilk S, Schulze C, Fischer M, Beer M, Hlinak A, Hoffmann B.Organ distribution of Schmallenberg virus RNA in malformednewborns. Vet Microbiol. 2012;159:236–8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2012.03.03512. Wernike K, Eschbaumer M, Schirrmeier H, Blohm U, Breithaupt A,Hoffmann B, et al. Oral exposure, reinfection and cellular immunityto Schmallenberg virus in cattle. Vet Microbiol. 2013;165:155–9.http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2013.01.04013. Wernike K, Hoffmann B, Bréard E, Bøtner A, Ponsart C,Zientara S, et al. Schmallenberg virus experimental infection ofsheep. Vet Microbiol. 2013;166:461–6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2013.06.03014. Méroc E, Poskin A, Van Loo H, Van Driessche E, Czaplicki G,Quinet C, et al. Follow-up of the Schmallenberg virusseroprevalence in Belgian cattle. Transbound Emerg Dis. 2013.http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/tbed.1220215. Wernike K, Elbers A, Beer M. Schmallenberg virus infection.Rev Sci Tech. 2015;34.Address for correspondence: Martin Beer, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut,Suedufer 10, 17493 Greifswald—Insel Riems, Germany;email: martin.beer@fli.bund.de1204 Emerging Infectious Diseases • www.cdc.gov/eid • Vol. 21, No. 7, July 2015