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Norbert Nowotny - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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different dynamics of Usutu Virus infections in austria and hungary 2017 2018
Transboundary and Emerging Diseases, 2020Co-Authors: Pia Weidinger, Herbert Weissenbock, Tamas Bakonyi, Norbert Nowotny, Karoly Erdelyi, Rene Brunthaler, Jolanta KolodziejekAbstract:Usutu Virus (USUV), a mosquito-borne flaviVirus closely related to West Nile Virus, emerged in Austria in 2001, when it caused a considerable mass-mortality of Eurasian blackbirds. Cases in birds increased until 2003 and quickly declined thereafter, presumably due to developing herd immunity. Since 2006, no further cases were recorded, until two blackbirds were tested positive in 2016. In Hungary, USUV first appeared in 2005 and has caused only sporadic infections since then. Initially, the only genetic USUV lineage found across both countries was Europe 1. This changed in 2015/2016, when Europe 2 emerged, which has since then become the prevalent lineage. Due to dispersal of these strains and introduction of new genetic lineages, USUV infections are now widespread across Europe. In 2009, the first cases of USUV-related encephalitis were described in humans, and the Virus has been frequently detected in blood donations since 2016. To monitor USUV infections among the Austrian wild bird population in 2017/2018, 86 samples were investigated by RT-PCR. In 67 of them, USUV nucleic acid was detected (17 in 2017, 50 in 2018). The majority of succumbed birds were blackbirds, found in Vienna and Lower Austria. However, the Virus also spread westwards to Upper Austria and southwards to Styria and Carinthia. In Hungary, 253 wild birds were examined, but only six of them were infected with USUV (five in 2017, one in 2018). Thus, in contrast to the considerable increase in USUV-associated bird mortality in Austria, the number of infections in Hungary declined after a peak in 2016. Except for one case of USUV lineage Africa 3 in Austria in 2017, Europe 2 remains the most prevalent genetic lineage in both countries. Since USUV transmission largely depends on temperature, which affects vector populations, climate change may cause more frequent USUV outbreaks in the future.
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targeted surveillance reveals native and invasive mosquito species infected with Usutu Virus
Parasites & Vectors, 2019Co-Authors: Jeremy V Camp, Norbert Nowotny, Jolanta KolodziejekAbstract:The emergence of Usutu Virus (USUV) in Europe was first reported in Austria, 2001, and the Virus has since spread to many European countries. Initial outbreaks are marked by a mass die-off of European blackbirds (Turdus merula) and other bird species. During outbreaks, the Virus has been detected in pools of Culex pipiens mosquitoes, and these mosquitoes are probably the most important enzootic vectors. Beginning in 2017, a second wave of blackbird deaths associated with USUV was observed in eastern Austria; the affected areas expanded to the Austrian federal states of Styria in the south and to Upper Austria in the west in 2018. We sampled the potential vector population at selected sites of bird deaths in 2018 in order to identify infected mosquitoes. We detected USUV RNA in 16 out of 19 pools of Cx. pipiens/Cx. torrentium mosquitoes at sites of USUV-linked blackbird mortality in Linz and Graz, Austria. A disseminated Virus infection was detected in individuals from selected pools, suggesting that Cx. pipiens form pipiens was the principal vector. In addition to a high rate of infected Cx. pipiens collected from Graz, a disseminated Virus infection was detected in a pool of Aedes japonicus japonicus. We show herein that naturally-infected mosquitoes at foci of USUV activity are primarily Cx. pipiens form pipiens. In addition, we report the first natural infection of Ae. j. japonicus with USUV, suggesting that it may be involved in the epizootic transmission of USUV in Europe. Ae. j. japonicus is an invasive mosquito whose range is expanding in Europe.
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increase in human west nile and Usutu Virus infections austria 2018
Eurosurveillance, 2018Co-Authors: Stephan W Aberle, Norbert Nowotny, Jolanta Kolodziejek, Christof Jungbauer, Karin Stiasny, Judith H Aberle, Alexander Zoufaly, M K Hourfar, Lisa WeidnerAbstract:Between 28 June and 17 September 2018, 27 cases of human West Nile Virus infections were recorded in Austria; four cases of West Nile neuroinvasive disease, 11 cases of West Nile fever, six infections detected by blood donation screening and six imported cases. In addition, 18 cases of human Usutu Virus infections (all blood donors) were recorded. This is the highest number of annual infections recorded in Austria since the introduction of both Viruses.
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Usutu Virus infections among blood donors austria july and august 2017 raising awareness for diagnostic challenges
Eurosurveillance, 2017Co-Authors: Tamas Bakonyi, Norbert Nowotny, Stephan W Aberle, Jolanta Kolodziejek, Christof Jungbauer, Karin Stiasny, Katharina Dimmel, F AllerbergerAbstract:Between July and August 2017, seven of 12,047 blood donations from eastern Austria, reacted positive to West Nile Virus (WNV) in the cobas test (Roche). Follow-up investigations revealed Usutu Virus (USUV) nucleic acid in six of these. Retrospective analyses of four blood donors diagnosed as WNV-infected in 2016 showed one USUV positive. Blood transfusion services and public health authorities in USUV-endemic areas should be aware of a possible increase of human USUV infections.
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Usutu Virus austria and hungary 2010 2016
Emerging microbes & infections, 2017Co-Authors: Tamas Bakonyi, Herbert Weissenbock, Karoly Erdelyi, Rene Brunthaler, Norbert NowotnyAbstract:Usutu Virus (USUV, Flaviviridae) was first reported in Europe in Austria in 2001, where it caused wild bird (mainly blackbird) mortality until 2005. Since 2006 no further USUV cases were diagnosed ...
Tamas Bakonyi - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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different dynamics of Usutu Virus infections in austria and hungary 2017 2018
Transboundary and Emerging Diseases, 2020Co-Authors: Pia Weidinger, Herbert Weissenbock, Tamas Bakonyi, Norbert Nowotny, Karoly Erdelyi, Rene Brunthaler, Jolanta KolodziejekAbstract:Usutu Virus (USUV), a mosquito-borne flaviVirus closely related to West Nile Virus, emerged in Austria in 2001, when it caused a considerable mass-mortality of Eurasian blackbirds. Cases in birds increased until 2003 and quickly declined thereafter, presumably due to developing herd immunity. Since 2006, no further cases were recorded, until two blackbirds were tested positive in 2016. In Hungary, USUV first appeared in 2005 and has caused only sporadic infections since then. Initially, the only genetic USUV lineage found across both countries was Europe 1. This changed in 2015/2016, when Europe 2 emerged, which has since then become the prevalent lineage. Due to dispersal of these strains and introduction of new genetic lineages, USUV infections are now widespread across Europe. In 2009, the first cases of USUV-related encephalitis were described in humans, and the Virus has been frequently detected in blood donations since 2016. To monitor USUV infections among the Austrian wild bird population in 2017/2018, 86 samples were investigated by RT-PCR. In 67 of them, USUV nucleic acid was detected (17 in 2017, 50 in 2018). The majority of succumbed birds were blackbirds, found in Vienna and Lower Austria. However, the Virus also spread westwards to Upper Austria and southwards to Styria and Carinthia. In Hungary, 253 wild birds were examined, but only six of them were infected with USUV (five in 2017, one in 2018). Thus, in contrast to the considerable increase in USUV-associated bird mortality in Austria, the number of infections in Hungary declined after a peak in 2016. Except for one case of USUV lineage Africa 3 in Austria in 2017, Europe 2 remains the most prevalent genetic lineage in both countries. Since USUV transmission largely depends on temperature, which affects vector populations, climate change may cause more frequent USUV outbreaks in the future.
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Usutu Virus infections among blood donors austria july and august 2017 raising awareness for diagnostic challenges
Eurosurveillance, 2017Co-Authors: Tamas Bakonyi, Norbert Nowotny, Stephan W Aberle, Jolanta Kolodziejek, Christof Jungbauer, Karin Stiasny, Katharina Dimmel, F AllerbergerAbstract:Between July and August 2017, seven of 12,047 blood donations from eastern Austria, reacted positive to West Nile Virus (WNV) in the cobas test (Roche). Follow-up investigations revealed Usutu Virus (USUV) nucleic acid in six of these. Retrospective analyses of four blood donors diagnosed as WNV-infected in 2016 showed one USUV positive. Blood transfusion services and public health authorities in USUV-endemic areas should be aware of a possible increase of human USUV infections.
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Usutu Virus austria and hungary 2010 2016
Emerging microbes & infections, 2017Co-Authors: Tamas Bakonyi, Herbert Weissenbock, Karoly Erdelyi, Rene Brunthaler, Norbert NowotnyAbstract:Usutu Virus (USUV, Flaviviridae) was first reported in Europe in Austria in 2001, where it caused wild bird (mainly blackbird) mortality until 2005. Since 2006 no further USUV cases were diagnosed ...
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co circulation of Usutu Virus and west nile Virus in a reed bed ecosystem
Parasites & Vectors, 2015Co-Authors: Ivo Rudolf, Tamas Bakonyi, Lenka Betasova, Oldřich Sebesta, Jan Mendel, Juraj Pesko, Hana Blažejova, Kristýna Venclikova, Petra Strakova, Norbert NowotnyAbstract:Background Mosquito-borne flaviViruses are a major public health threat in many countries worldwide. In Central Europe, West Nile Virus (WNV) and Usutu Virus (USUV), both belonging to the Japanese encephalitis Virus group (Flaviviridae) have emerged in the last decennium. Surveillance of mosquito vectors for arboViruses is a sensitive tool to evaluate Virus circulation and consequently to estimate the public health risk.
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Usutu Virus in blackbirds turdus merula czech republic 2011 2012
Transboundary and Emerging Diseases, 2014Co-Authors: Zdeněk Hubalek, Tamas Bakonyi, Norbert Nowotny, Ivo Rudolf, Miroslav Capek, Lenka BetasovaAbstract:The central European lineage of Usutu Virus (USUV) was isolated from a blackbird (Turdus merula), which was found dead in the city of Brno, Czech Republic, in 2011.
Mutienmarie Garigliany - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Usutu Virus infection of embryonated chicken eggs and a chicken embryo derived primary cell line
Viruses, 2020Co-Authors: Emna Benzarti, Michael Sarlet, Mathieu Franssen, Daniel Desmecht, Giovanni Savini, Jose Rivas, Alessio Lorusso, Nassim Moula, Mutienmarie GariglianyAbstract:Usutu Virus (USUV) is a mosquito-borne flaviVirus, closely related to the West Nile Virus (WNV). Similar to WNV, USUV may cause infections in humans, with occasional, but sometimes severe, neurological complications. Further, USUV can be highly pathogenic in wild and captive birds and its circulation in Europe has given rise to substantial avian death. Adequate study models of this Virus are still lacking but are critically needed to understand its pathogenesis and virulence spectrum. The chicken embryo is a low-cost, easy-to-manipulate and ethically acceptable model that closely reflects mammalian fetal development and allows immune response investigations, drug screening, and high-throughput Virus production for vaccine development. While former studies suggested that this model was refractory to USUV infection, we unexpectedly found that high doses of four phylogenetically distinct USUV strains caused embryonic lethality. By employing immunohistochemistry and quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, we demonstrated that USUV was widely distributed in embryonic tissues, including the brain, retina, and feather follicles. We then successfully developed a primary cell line from the chorioallantoic membrane that was permissive to the Virus without the need for viral adaptation. We believe the future use of these models would foster a significant understanding of USUV-induced neuropathogenesis and immune response and allow the future development of drugs and vaccines against USUV.
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new insights into the susceptibility of immunocompetent mice to Usutu Virus
Viruses, 2020Co-Authors: Emna Benzarti, Jonas Schmidtchanasit, Michael Sarlet, Mathieu Franssen, Daniel Desmecht, Mutienmarie GariglianyAbstract:Usutu Virus (USUV) is a mosquito-borne flaviVirus that shares many similarities with the closely related West Nile Virus (WNV) in terms of ecology and clinical manifestations. Initially distributed in Africa, USUV emerged in Italy in 1996 and managed to co-circulate with WNV in many European countries in a similar mosquito–bird life cycle. The rapid geographic spread of USUV, the seasonal mass mortalities it causes in the European avifauna, and the increasing number of infections with neurological disease both in healthy and immunocompromised humans has stimulated interest in infection studies to delineate USUV pathogenesis. Here, we assessed the pathogenicity of two USUV isolates from a recent Belgian outbreak in immunocompetent mice. The intradermal injection of USUV gave rise to disorientation and paraplegia and was associated with neuronal death in the brain and spinal cord in a single mouse. Intranasal inoculation of USUV could also establish the infection; viral RNA was detected in the brain 15 days post-infection. Overall, this pilot study probes the suitability of this murine model for the study of USUV neuroinvasiveness and the possibility of direct transmission in mammals.
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experimental Usutu Virus infection in domestic canaries serinus canaria
Viruses, 2020Co-Authors: Emna Benzarti, Jonas Schmidtchanasit, Michael Sarlet, Mathieu Franssen, Daniel Desmecht, Giovanni Savini, Jose Rivas, Alessio Lorusso, Annesophie Van Laere, Mutienmarie GariglianyAbstract:Usutu Virus (USUV) is a neurotropic flaviVirus closely related to West Nile Virus (WNV). Its enzootic cycle mainly involves mosquitoes and birds. Human infection can occur with occasional, but sometimes severe, neurological complications. Since its emergence and spread in Europe over the last two decades, USUV has been linked to significant avian outbreaks, especially among Passeriformes, including European blackbirds (Turdus merula). Strikingly, no in vivo avian model exists so far to study this arboVirus. The domestic canary (Serinus canaria) is a passerine, which is considered as a highly susceptible model of infection by WNV. Here, we experimentally challenged domestic canaries with two different doses of USUV. All inoculated birds presented detectable amounts of viral RNA in the blood and RNA shedding via feathers and droppings during the early stages of the infection, as determined by RT-qPCR. Mortality occurred in both infected groups (1/5 and 2/5, respectively) and was not necessarily correlated to a pure neurological disease. Subsequent analyses of samples from dead birds showed histopathological changes and Virus tropism mimicking those reported in naturally infected birds. A robust seroconversion followed the infection in almost all the surviving canaries. Altogether, these results demonstrate that domestic canaries constitute an interesting experimental model for the study of USUV pathogenesis and transmission.
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Usutu Virus epizootic in belgium in 2017 and 2018 evidence of Virus endemization and ongoing introduction events
Vector-borne and Zoonotic Diseases, 2020Co-Authors: Emna Benzarti, Jonas Schmidtchanasit, Daniel Cadar, Annick Linden, Michael Sarlet, Mathieu Franssen, Daniel Desmecht, Jose Rivas, Mutienmarie GariglianyAbstract:Wildlife surveillance allowed the monitoring of the zoonotic mosquito-borne Usutu Virus (USUV) in birds and bats (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) in southern Belgium in 2017 and 2018. USUV-RNA was detected in 69 birds (of 253) from 15 species, among which 7 species had not previously been reported to be susceptible to the infection. Similarly, 2 bats (of 10) were detected positive by reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). USUV-associated lesions were mainly found in Eurasian Blackbirds (Turdus merula), in which USUV antigens were demonstrated by immunohistochemistry in the brain, heart, liver, kidney, intestine, and lung. Partial nonstructural protein 5 gene-based phylogenetic analysis showed several identical or closely related strains from 2016, 2017, and 2018 clustering together within Europe 3 or Africa 3 lineages. Further, one USUV strain detected in a common chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) manifested a close genetic relationship with the European 1 strains circulating in Hungary and Austria. Our data provide evidence of USUV endemization in southern Belgium in local birds and bats, extension of the host range of the Virus and ongoing Virus introduction from abroad, likely by migratory birds. Our results highlight the need for vigilance in the forthcoming years toward new Virus-associated outbreaks in birds and possible human infections in Belgium.
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first evidence of fatal Usutu Virus natural infections in an anatidae the common scoter melanitta nigra
Vector-borne and Zoonotic Diseases, 2019Co-Authors: Emna Benzarti, Mutienmarie Garigliany, Annick Linden, Michael Sarlet, Mathieu Franssen, Dany Hauman, Julien Paternostre, Dominique Cassart, Daniel DesmechtAbstract:Abstract While fatal infections caused by the Usutu Virus appeared to concern only passerines (especially the blackbird) and Strigiformes (especially the great gray owl), we report herein that the ...
Herbert Weissenbock - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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different dynamics of Usutu Virus infections in austria and hungary 2017 2018
Transboundary and Emerging Diseases, 2020Co-Authors: Pia Weidinger, Herbert Weissenbock, Tamas Bakonyi, Norbert Nowotny, Karoly Erdelyi, Rene Brunthaler, Jolanta KolodziejekAbstract:Usutu Virus (USUV), a mosquito-borne flaviVirus closely related to West Nile Virus, emerged in Austria in 2001, when it caused a considerable mass-mortality of Eurasian blackbirds. Cases in birds increased until 2003 and quickly declined thereafter, presumably due to developing herd immunity. Since 2006, no further cases were recorded, until two blackbirds were tested positive in 2016. In Hungary, USUV first appeared in 2005 and has caused only sporadic infections since then. Initially, the only genetic USUV lineage found across both countries was Europe 1. This changed in 2015/2016, when Europe 2 emerged, which has since then become the prevalent lineage. Due to dispersal of these strains and introduction of new genetic lineages, USUV infections are now widespread across Europe. In 2009, the first cases of USUV-related encephalitis were described in humans, and the Virus has been frequently detected in blood donations since 2016. To monitor USUV infections among the Austrian wild bird population in 2017/2018, 86 samples were investigated by RT-PCR. In 67 of them, USUV nucleic acid was detected (17 in 2017, 50 in 2018). The majority of succumbed birds were blackbirds, found in Vienna and Lower Austria. However, the Virus also spread westwards to Upper Austria and southwards to Styria and Carinthia. In Hungary, 253 wild birds were examined, but only six of them were infected with USUV (five in 2017, one in 2018). Thus, in contrast to the considerable increase in USUV-associated bird mortality in Austria, the number of infections in Hungary declined after a peak in 2016. Except for one case of USUV lineage Africa 3 in Austria in 2017, Europe 2 remains the most prevalent genetic lineage in both countries. Since USUV transmission largely depends on temperature, which affects vector populations, climate change may cause more frequent USUV outbreaks in the future.
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Usutu Virus austria and hungary 2010 2016
Emerging microbes & infections, 2017Co-Authors: Tamas Bakonyi, Herbert Weissenbock, Karoly Erdelyi, Rene Brunthaler, Norbert NowotnyAbstract:Usutu Virus (USUV, Flaviviridae) was first reported in Europe in Austria in 2001, where it caused wild bird (mainly blackbird) mortality until 2005. Since 2006 no further USUV cases were diagnosed ...
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Usutu Virus italy 1996
Emerging Infectious Diseases, 2013Co-Authors: Herbert Weissenbock, Tamas Bakonyi, Giacomo Rossi, P Mani, Norbert NowotnyAbstract:Retrospective analysis of archived tissue samples from bird deaths in the Tuscany region of Italy in 1996 identified Usutu Virus. Partial sequencing confirmed identity with the 2001 Vienna strain and provided evidence for a much earlier introduction of this Virus into Europe than previously assumed.
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Usutu Virus in wild birds in northern italy
Veterinary Microbiology, 2010Co-Authors: G Manarolla, Herbert Weissenbock, Tamas Bakonyi, D Gallazzi, L Crosta, G M Dorrestein, Norbert NowotnyAbstract:Abstract Usutu Virus (USUV) infection was diagnosed in two free-living blackbirds and in three captive owls belonging to two different species in northern Italy in the summers of 2006–2008. Diagnosis was established by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR. RT-PCR was performed on frozen and on paraffin-embedded tissues (PET), respectively. From the frozen samples a partial sequence of the putative USUV E and NS1 proteins (1229 bp) was determined, whereas partial sequences of the putative NS3 (278 bp) and NS5 (159 bp) proteins were obtained from PET. Additionally, one partial sequence (163 bp) of the putative 3′UTR region was determined from all samples. Sequencing of the amplification products revealed 99.8–100% nucleotide identity of the Italian USUV strains to those from other central European countries.
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explaining Usutu Virus dynamics in austria model development and calibration
Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 2008Co-Authors: Franz Rubel, Herbert Weissenbock, Tamas Bakonyi, Katharina Brugger, Michael Hantel, Sonja Chvalamannsberger, Norbert NowotnyAbstract:Usutu Virus (USUV), a flaviVirus of the Japanese encephalitis Virus complex, was for the first time detected outside Africa in the region around Vienna (Austria) in 2001 by Weissenbock et al. (Weissenbock, H., Kolodziejek, J., Url, A., Lussy, H., Rebel-Bauder, B., Nowotny, N., 2002. Emergence of Usutu Virus, an African mosquito-borne flaviVirus of the Japanese encephalitis Virus group, central Europe. Emerg. Infect. Dis. 8, 652-656). USUV is an arthropod-borne Virus (arboVirus) circulating between arthropod vectors (mainly mosquitoes of theCulexpipiens complex) and avian amplification hosts. Infections of mammalian hosts or humans, as observed for the related West Nile Virus (WNV), are rare. However, USUV infection leads to a high mortality in birds, especially blackbirds (Turdusmerula), and has similar dynamics with the WNV in North America, which, amongst others, caused mortality in American robins (Turdus migrator- ius). We hypothesized that the transmission of USUV is determined by an interaction of developing proportion of the avian hosts immune and climatic factors affecting the mosquito population. This mechanism is implemented into the present model that simulates the seasonal cycles of mosquito and bird populations as well as USUV cross-infections. Observed monthly climate data are specified for the temperature-dependent development rates of the mosquitoes as well as the temperature-dependent extrinsic-incubation period. Our model reproduced the observed number of dead birds in Austria between 2001 and 2005, including the peaks in the relevant years. The high number of USUV cases in 2003 seems to
Jonas Schmidtchanasit - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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new insights into the susceptibility of immunocompetent mice to Usutu Virus
Viruses, 2020Co-Authors: Emna Benzarti, Jonas Schmidtchanasit, Michael Sarlet, Mathieu Franssen, Daniel Desmecht, Mutienmarie GariglianyAbstract:Usutu Virus (USUV) is a mosquito-borne flaviVirus that shares many similarities with the closely related West Nile Virus (WNV) in terms of ecology and clinical manifestations. Initially distributed in Africa, USUV emerged in Italy in 1996 and managed to co-circulate with WNV in many European countries in a similar mosquito–bird life cycle. The rapid geographic spread of USUV, the seasonal mass mortalities it causes in the European avifauna, and the increasing number of infections with neurological disease both in healthy and immunocompromised humans has stimulated interest in infection studies to delineate USUV pathogenesis. Here, we assessed the pathogenicity of two USUV isolates from a recent Belgian outbreak in immunocompetent mice. The intradermal injection of USUV gave rise to disorientation and paraplegia and was associated with neuronal death in the brain and spinal cord in a single mouse. Intranasal inoculation of USUV could also establish the infection; viral RNA was detected in the brain 15 days post-infection. Overall, this pilot study probes the suitability of this murine model for the study of USUV neuroinvasiveness and the possibility of direct transmission in mammals.
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experimental Usutu Virus infection in domestic canaries serinus canaria
Viruses, 2020Co-Authors: Emna Benzarti, Jonas Schmidtchanasit, Michael Sarlet, Mathieu Franssen, Daniel Desmecht, Giovanni Savini, Jose Rivas, Alessio Lorusso, Annesophie Van Laere, Mutienmarie GariglianyAbstract:Usutu Virus (USUV) is a neurotropic flaviVirus closely related to West Nile Virus (WNV). Its enzootic cycle mainly involves mosquitoes and birds. Human infection can occur with occasional, but sometimes severe, neurological complications. Since its emergence and spread in Europe over the last two decades, USUV has been linked to significant avian outbreaks, especially among Passeriformes, including European blackbirds (Turdus merula). Strikingly, no in vivo avian model exists so far to study this arboVirus. The domestic canary (Serinus canaria) is a passerine, which is considered as a highly susceptible model of infection by WNV. Here, we experimentally challenged domestic canaries with two different doses of USUV. All inoculated birds presented detectable amounts of viral RNA in the blood and RNA shedding via feathers and droppings during the early stages of the infection, as determined by RT-qPCR. Mortality occurred in both infected groups (1/5 and 2/5, respectively) and was not necessarily correlated to a pure neurological disease. Subsequent analyses of samples from dead birds showed histopathological changes and Virus tropism mimicking those reported in naturally infected birds. A robust seroconversion followed the infection in almost all the surviving canaries. Altogether, these results demonstrate that domestic canaries constitute an interesting experimental model for the study of USUV pathogenesis and transmission.
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Usutu Virus epizootic in belgium in 2017 and 2018 evidence of Virus endemization and ongoing introduction events
Vector-borne and Zoonotic Diseases, 2020Co-Authors: Emna Benzarti, Jonas Schmidtchanasit, Daniel Cadar, Annick Linden, Michael Sarlet, Mathieu Franssen, Daniel Desmecht, Jose Rivas, Mutienmarie GariglianyAbstract:Wildlife surveillance allowed the monitoring of the zoonotic mosquito-borne Usutu Virus (USUV) in birds and bats (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) in southern Belgium in 2017 and 2018. USUV-RNA was detected in 69 birds (of 253) from 15 species, among which 7 species had not previously been reported to be susceptible to the infection. Similarly, 2 bats (of 10) were detected positive by reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). USUV-associated lesions were mainly found in Eurasian Blackbirds (Turdus merula), in which USUV antigens were demonstrated by immunohistochemistry in the brain, heart, liver, kidney, intestine, and lung. Partial nonstructural protein 5 gene-based phylogenetic analysis showed several identical or closely related strains from 2016, 2017, and 2018 clustering together within Europe 3 or Africa 3 lineages. Further, one USUV strain detected in a common chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) manifested a close genetic relationship with the European 1 strains circulating in Hungary and Austria. Our data provide evidence of USUV endemization in southern Belgium in local birds and bats, extension of the host range of the Virus and ongoing Virus introduction from abroad, likely by migratory birds. Our results highlight the need for vigilance in the forthcoming years toward new Virus-associated outbreaks in birds and possible human infections in Belgium.
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distribution of Usutu Virus in germany and its effect on breeding bird populations
Emerging Infectious Diseases, 2017Co-Authors: Renke Luhken, Hanna Jost, Stefan Bosch, Norbert Becker, Ute Ziegler, Daniel Cadar, Egbert Tannich, Lars Lachmann, Stephanie Thomas, Jonas SchmidtchanasitAbstract:: Usutu Virus (USUV) is an emerging mosquitoborne flaviVirus with an increasing number of reports from several countries in Europe, where USUV infection has caused high avian mortality rates. However, 20 years after the first observed outbreak of USUV in Europe, there is still no reliable assessment of the large-scale impact of USUV outbreaks on bird populations. In this study, we identified the areas suitable for USUV circulation in Germany and analyzed the effects of USUV on breeding bird populations. We calculated the USUV-associated additional decline of common blackbird (Turdus merula) populations as 15.7% inside USUV-suitable areas but found no significant effect for the other 14 common bird species investigated. Our results show that the emergence of USUV is a further threat for birds in Europe and that the large-scale impact on population levels, at least for common blackbirds, must be considered.
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putative lineage of novel african Usutu Virus central europe
Emerging Infectious Diseases, 2015Co-Authors: Daniel Cadar, Hanna Jost, Stefan Bosch, Norbert Becker, Jessica Borstler, Mutienmarie Garigliany, Jonas SchmidtchanasitAbstract:We characterized the complete genome of a putative novel Usutu Virus (USUV) strain (Usutu-BONN) detected in a dead blackbird from Germany. Genomic analysis revealed several unique amino acid substitutions among the polyprotein gene. Phylogenetic analyses demonstrated that Usutu-BONN constitutes a putative novel African USUV lineage, which was probably recently introduced to central Europe.
