Prevalence and molecular epidemiology of West Nile and Usutu virus infections in Croatia in the ‘One health’ context, 2018

Vilibić-Čavlek, Tatjana; Savić, Vladimir; Sabadi, Dario; Perić, Ljiljana; Barbić, Ljubo; Klobučar, Ana; Miklaušić, Božana; Tabain, Irena; Santini, Marija; Vucelja, Marko; Dvorski, Elizabeta; Butigan, Tamara; Kolaric-Sviben, Gordana; Potočnik-Hunjadi, Tanja; Balenović, Mirta; Bogdanić, Maja; Andrić, Zdravko; Stevanović, Vladimir; Capak, Krunoslav; Baličević, Marina; Listeš, Eddy; Savini, Giovanni

doi:10.1111/tbed.13225

Cited by 63 publications

(85 citation statements)

References 43 publications

(53 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…The factors explaining the induction of neurological disease in a single specimen are uncertain. A particular viral-host interaction clearly influenced the course and outcome of the infection in this individual, as in a similar manner with the rare natural cases of USUV clinical disease with encephalitis in humans [8,37]. Larger group sizes would be needed in future experiments to express the morbidity and mortality rates in relevant percentages.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

New Insights into the Susceptibility of Immunocompetent Mice to Usutu Virus

Benzarti

Sarlet

Franssen

et al. 2020

Viruses

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

New Insights into the Susceptibility of Immunocompetent Mice to Usutu Virus

Benzarti

Sarlet

Franssen

et al. 2020

Viruses

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Usutu virus (USUV) is a mosquito-borne virus classified together with the West Nile virus (WNV) in the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) serogroup, of the family Flaviviridae, genus Flavivirus [1]. It has become an endemic pathogen in many European countries and has been co-circulating with WNV, in a similar mosquito-bird life cycle, with humans and other mammals being occasional hosts [2][3][4][5]. USUV infection in humans is often asymptomatic.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experimental Usutu Virus Infection in Domestic Canaries Serinus canaria

Benzarti

Rivas

Sarlet

et al. 2020

Viruses

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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.

show abstract

“…In humans, USUV infection was first described in Africa (Central African Republic and Burkina Faso in 1981 and 2004, respectively), with mild clinical signs such as fever and skin rash reported [12]. In Europe, the recent epizootics were also accompanied by several descriptions of human neurological disorders, including facial paralysis, encephalitis, meningitis and meningoencephalitis, in immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients, representing to date around 30 cases [7,[18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25]. Moreover, molecular and serologic evidence of USUV infection in Italian, German, Austrian and Dutch blood donors indicates that the virus is also circulating silently among asymptomatic humans in Europe and could potentially be a concern PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES for blood transfusions [26][27][28][29].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Study of Usutu virus neuropathogenicity in mice and human cellular models

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Usutu virus (USUV), an African mosquito-borne flavivirus closely related to West Nile virus, was first isolated in South Africa in 1959. USUV emerged in Europe two decades ago, causing notably massive mortality in Eurasian blackbirds. USUV is attracting increasing attention due to its potential for emergence and its rapid spread in Europe in recent years. Although mainly asymptomatic or responsible for mild clinical signs, USUV was recently described as being associated with neurological disorders in humans such as encephalitis and meningoencephalitis, highlighting the potential health threat posed by the virus. Despite this, USUV pathogenesis remains largely unexplored. The aim of this study was to evaluate USUV neuropathogenicity using in vivo and in vitro approaches. Our results indicate that USUV efficiently replicates in the murine central nervous system. Replication in the spinal cord and brain is associated with recruitment of inflammatory cells and the release of inflammatory molecules as well as induction of antiviral-responses without major modulation of bloodbrain barrier integrity. Endothelial cells integrity is also maintained in a human model of the blood-brain barrier despite USUV replication and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, USUV-inoculated mice developed major ocular defects associated with inflammation. Moreover, USUV efficiently replicates in human retinal pigment epithelium. Our results will help to better characterize the physiopathology related to USUV infection in order to anticipate the potential threat of USUV emergence.

show abstract

Prevalence and molecular epidemiology of West Nile and Usutu virus infections in Croatia in the ‘One health’ context, 2018

Cited by 63 publications

References 43 publications

New Insights into the Susceptibility of Immunocompetent Mice to Usutu Virus

New Insights into the Susceptibility of Immunocompetent Mice to Usutu Virus

Experimental Usutu Virus Infection in Domestic Canaries Serinus canaria

Study of Usutu virus neuropathogenicity in mice and human cellular models

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About