To obtain data on arboviruses circulating in 2015, we attempted to isolate viruses on BHK-21 and HmLu-1 cells inoculated with blood samples obtained from 60 sentinel cattle maintained on 30 farms and from pools of Culicoides biting midges collected by using suction light traps on 2 cattle farms in Kagoshima Prefecture in southern Japan. Two viruses (KS-1/P/15 and KS-2/P/15) were isolated from cattle blood collected during August and September 2015, and another virus (KSB-1/C/15) was isolated from a pool of C. tainanus midges sampled during September 2015.

We performed reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) with primer pairs (AKAI206F; 5′-CACAACCAAgTgTCgATCTTA-3′; and SimbuS637–656; 5′-gAgAATCCAgATTTAgCCCA-3′) specific for small RNA segment of Simbu serogroup viruses and the One Step RT-PCR Kit (QIAGEN, Hilden, Germany). We generated a product of the expected size from RNA samples of the isolated viruses. Preliminary sequence analysis for the RT-PCR product (443-nt) showed that the viruses were highly similar to SHAV. We sequenced and analyzed complete small and medium RNA segments and a partial region of the large RNA segment by using primers specific for SHAV (8). Sequences determined in this study were deposited in the International Nucleotide Sequence Database under accession nos. LC198185–93.

Figure 1

Figure 1. Neighbor-joining phylogenetic trees based on protein-coding sequences of A) small, B) medium, and C) large partial RNA segments for Simbu serogroup viruses, southern Japan, 2015–2016. Black circles indicate Shamonda viruses isolated...

Neighbor-joining analysis available in MEGA7 (9) was used for phylogenetic analysis on the basis of the 3 RNA segments of the Simbu serogroup viruses. Sequences determined showed high nucleotide identities with known sequences of SHAV (98.3%–99.5% for the RNA small segment, 89.0%–97.9% for the medium RNA segment, and 91.5%–98.0% for the large RNA segment). Three phylogenetic trees showed that isolated viruses densely clustered with Japanese SHAV isolates obtained in 2002 and 2007 (Figure 1).

We performed virus neutralization tests (VNTs) on virus-infected HmLu-1 cells by using an established method (2). Antibodies to SHAV (titer range 1:2–1:64) were detected in serum samples from 15 malformed calves by VNTs during December 2015–April 2016 (Table). Serum samples obtained from sentinel cattle in June, August, September, October, and November 2015 showed that seroconversion for SHAV had occurred widely in Kagoshima Prefecture during August–October.

Although 2 calves ingested colostrum substitute containing immunoglobulins, all calves tested were deprived of colostrum produced by their mothers. SHAV had not been detected in mainland Japan for ≈10 years until we identified new cases of infection in 2015. It is highly improbable that the colostrum substitute contained antibodies against SHAV. Malformed calves were delivered at or beyond term (gestation periods range 275–299 days), but 6 calves were born dead.

The small RNA–specific RT-PCR showed positive results for samples from the central nervous system (cerebrum, brainstem, or spinal cord) of 7 deformed calves. Sequences obtained were identical (except for 1 of 2 nt substitutions) with relevant sequence of SHAVs isolated in 2015.

Figure 2

Figure 2. Characteristic observations in Shamonda virus–positive malformed calves, southern Japan, 2015–2016. A) Torticollis and arthrogryposis in calf 3. B) Spinal curvature (scoliosis) in calf 7. C) Perivascular infiltration in the midbrain of...

Torticollis (10/15) or arthrogryposis (12/15) were often observed among affected calves (Figure 2). Head deformity (6/15) or spinal curvature (11/15) were also characteristic. Discoloration of skeletal muscles was observed in one third of the calves. Cerebral hemispheres appeared normal among the calves, but lateral ventricular enlargement was found in 2 calves, and cerebellar hypoplasia was found in 1 calf.

Histopathologic analysis identified calcification of nerve cells (11/15), perivascular infiltration of mononuclear cells (6/15), and gliosis (5/15), which were often observed in the cerebrum and brainstem (Figure 2). Severe degenerative changes in the ventral horn of the spinal cord were identified in 10 of the malformed calves. Fatty replacement (12/15), atrophy (9/15), and myositis (9/15) were major observations in the skeletal muscle and often correlated with muscle discolorations.

VNTs did not detect neutralizing antibodies against teratogenic arboviruses, such as Chuzan virus, Akabane virus, Aino virus, or Peaton virus in serum samples from affected calves. All tested dams of affected newborns were positive for SHAV antibodies in VNTs (titer range 1:16–>1:256).

Our findings support an association between SHAV and congenital deformities in calves infected in utero. Manifestations and macroscopic and microscopic observations in the malformed calves were similar to those of calves infected with Schmallenberg virus (10,11). In comparison with cases attributed to Akabane virus and Aino virus, congenital lesions in the brain were relatively mild (i.e., no hydranencephaly and few lateral ventricular enlargements appeared in malformed calves). However, nonsuppurative encephalitis or nerve cell death often occurred in cerebrums and brainstems that otherwise seemed normal.

Twelve of the dams of the malformed calves in this report were vaccinated with a trivalent inactivated vaccine containing Akabane, Aino, and Chuzan viruses. To our knowledge, no effective preventive measure for infection with SHAV is available. Previous surveillance in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia (12–14) enabled us to postulate the wide geographic distribution of SHAV. The potential risk for SHAV spreading in livestock should be considered, even in previously unaffected areas, because long-distance dispersal and accidental transportation of infected vectors from epizootic areas can introduce the virus. Also, recent outbreaks of infection with Schmallenberg virus and SHAV suggest that many Simbu serogroup viruses can affect livestock. More detailed study of this virus serogroup is warranted.