Usutu Virus RNA in Mosquitoes, Israel, 2014–2015

Mannasse, Batya; Mendelson, Ella; Orshan, Laor; Mor, Orna; Shalom, Uri; Yeger, Tamar; Lustig, Yaniv

doi:10.3201/eid2310.171017

Cited by 33 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…throughout parts of Africa, Europe, and Israel. [45][46][47][48][49][50] Currently, Culex pipiens is thought to be the primary vector in Europe, with a variety of birds serving as amplifying hosts. [45][46][47][48][49] Prior to 2001, Usutu virus was thought to only circulate in Africa until a large bird die-off attributed to Usutu virus infection occurred in Austria in 2001.…”

Section: Usutu Virusmentioning

confidence: 99%

Five Emerging Neuroinvasive Arboviral Diseases: Cache Valley, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, Jamestown Canyon, Powassan, and Usutu

Piquet

et al. 2019

Semin Neurol

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There are many arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) capable of neuroinvasion, with West Nile virus being one of the most well known. In this review, we highlight five rarer emerging or reemerging arboviruses capable of neuroinvasion: Cache Valley, eastern equine encephalitis, Jamestown Canyon, Powassan, and Usutu viruses. Cache Valley and Jamestown Canyon viruses likely circulate throughout most of North America, while eastern equine encephalitis and Powassan viruses typically circulate in the eastern half. Usutu virus is not currently circulating in North America, but has the potential to be introduced in the future given similar climate, vectors, and host species to Europe (where it has been circulating). Health care providers should contact their state or local health departments with any questions regarding arboviral disease surveillance, diagnosis, treatment, or prevention. To prevent neuroinvasive arboviral diseases, use of insect repellent and other mosquito and tick bite prevention strategies are key.

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Section: Usutu Virusmentioning

confidence: 99%

Five Emerging Neuroinvasive Arboviral Diseases: Cache Valley, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, Jamestown Canyon, Powassan, and Usutu

Piquet

et al. 2019

Semin Neurol

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“…U sutu virus (USUV) is a member of the Japanese encephalitis serocomplex within the family Flaviviridae (Kuno et al 1998). Previously distributed in the African continent (Nikolay et al 2011), USUV has expanded to Europe (Weissenböck et al 2002, Jöst et al 2011, Garigliany et al 2014 and to the middle east (Mannasse et al 2017). It is transmitted through the bites of adult ornithophilic mosquitoes (Eiden et al 2018) to avian hosts, which can show different clinical forms of infection according to the species, ranging from unapparent portage to severe neurological disease and death, which often occurs in blackbirds (Turdus merula) (Benzarti et al 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Usutu Virus Epizootic in Belgium in 2017 and 2018: Evidence of Virus Endemization and Ongoing Introduction Events

Benzarti

Sarlet

Franssen

et al. 2020

Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases

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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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“…Similar to WNV, its enzootic cycle involves wild birds as reservoirs and a wide range of mammals as accidental hosts [2][3][4][5][6][7], including humans [8]. Since its discovery in 1959, it has been isolated from mosquitoes and birds in Europe [9,10], Africa [11], and the Middle East [12]. Until now, USUV has never been detected in the United States, but the events of its introduction, endemization, and co-circulation with related flaviviruses, such as the St. Louis encephalitis virus and WNV, might occur in the future [13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

New Insights into the Susceptibility of Immunocompetent Mice to Usutu Virus

Benzarti

Sarlet

Franssen

et al. 2020

Viruses

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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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Usutu Virus RNA in Mosquitoes, Israel, 2014–2015

Cited by 33 publications

References 15 publications

Five Emerging Neuroinvasive Arboviral Diseases: Cache Valley, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, Jamestown Canyon, Powassan, and Usutu

Five Emerging Neuroinvasive Arboviral Diseases: Cache Valley, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, Jamestown Canyon, Powassan, and Usutu

Usutu Virus Epizootic in Belgium in 2017 and 2018: Evidence of Virus Endemization and Ongoing Introduction Events

New Insights into the Susceptibility of Immunocompetent Mice to Usutu Virus

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