ALERT: Akabane risk to cattle herds in Central Australia

No clinical signs are seen in adult cattle. Infection of cattle results in a transient viraemia causing a rise in Akabane antibodies. It affects the nervous system of the foetus in pregnant females.

The disease in calves appears as:

• Abortions at any time with a combination of the following:
  • early infection of the foetus results in calves born with arthrogryposis (deficiency of the cerebral cortex part of the brainleading to congenital joint contracture in two or more areas of the body with failure of muscle development). The condition is commonly referred to as ‘Crooked Calf Disease’. Hydranencephaly (replacement of brain tissue by a fluid-filled sac) may also occur.
  • infection at 3-4 months foetal age shows hydranencephaly only in calves. The condition is commonly referred to as ‘Dummy Calf Syndrome’. Calves can rise and walk, but are blind, have no basic reflexes and lack intelligence.
  • infection at an older foetal age (5-6 months) results in calves with arthrogryposis (due to the failure of muscle development). These skeletal deformities in more advanced pregnancies are the first seen in an outbreak.

There may be calving problems due to calf limb deformity. When born alive, their teeth, coat and hooves are fully mature but they are small, underweight, weak and often unable to stand.

Infection and immunity before pregnancy can occur in areas where the vector is present, so no signs of the disease are seen.

If you have calves with these symptoms, contact your Regional Biosecurity office or private vet to investigate. Blood samples can be collected from other cattle in the herd to identify whether the herd has been exposed to Akabane virus.

The disease is transmitted by blood-feeding insects, mostly Culicoides brevitarsis (biting midges), but other vectors could exist. Consequently, Akabane is endemic in the northern regions of Northern Territory with a similar distribution to the Bluetongue Virus (BTV) which shares the same vector.

When suitable weather conditions allow the midges to extend their normal range into areas with susceptible animals, and these animals have not previously been infected, clinical signs may be seen in the next calving season.

The National Arbovirus Monitoring Program (NAMP) monitors the seasonal distribution of not only BTV, but also Akabane virus and BEF. Younger animals (less than 18 months of age) are bled to determine the exposure of the herd in the most recent season.

Diagnosis of Akabane virus can often be made by clinical signs in the calf and can be confirmed by antibodies in the blood of the calf, cow or heifer.

There are no options for treatment or control because of the nature of the disease and the method of disease spread. If Akabane is endemic in an area, breeding stock should be introduced to the area at an early age to gain immunity.

Participating in NAMP provides information about the presence or absence of the midge which transits the Akabane virus, as well as the insect vectors for BEF and BTV. This can be used to inform the cattle industry more accurately on the location of the risk, and improve awareness for the disease and ensure that suspect cases are investigated by government or private veterinarians. The consequence of the disease on calving can have a significant economic impact on a pastoral property.