Detection of Usutu virus infection in wild birds in the United Kingdom, 2020

Euro Surveill. 2020 Oct;25(41):2001732. doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2020.25.41.2001732.

Abstract

In August 2020, as part of a long-term disease surveillance programme, Usutu virus was detected in five Eurasian blackbirds (Turdus merula) and one house sparrow (Passer domesticus) from Greater London, England. This was initially detected by reverse transcription-PCR and was confirmed by virus isolation and by immunohistochemical detection of flavivirus in tissues. Phylogenetic analysis identified Usutu virus African 3.2 lineage, which is prevalent in the Netherlands and Belgium, suggesting a potential incursion from mainland Europe.

Keywords: Emerging Infectious Diseases; Flaviviridae; Passerine birds; Usutu virus; Vector Borne Disease; Zoonosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Wild
  • Bird Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Birds
  • Disease Outbreaks*
  • Flavivirus / genetics
  • Flavivirus / isolation & purification*
  • Phylogeny
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Sentinel Surveillance / veterinary*
  • Sequence Analysis
  • United Kingdom / epidemiology

Supplementary concepts

  • Usutu virus