Usutu virus
| Usutu virus | |
|---|---|
| Virus classification | |
| Group: | Group IV ((+)ssRNA) |
| Family: | Flaviviridae |
| Genus: | Flavivirus |
| Species: | Usutu virus |
Usutu virus (USUV) first identified in South Africa in 1959,[1] is an emerging zoonotic arbovirus of concern because of its pathogenicity to humans and its similarity in ecology with other emerging arboviruses such as West Nile Virus.[2] USUV is a flavivirus belonging to the Japanese encephalitis complex.[2]
USUV has been reported from several African countries including Senegal, Central African Republic, Nigeria, Uganda, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, and Morocco.[2] Only two human cases have been identified in Africa, in 1981 and 2004, with one benign and one severe case described.[2] The virus was identified for the first time outside of Africa in 2001 in Austria, where it caused significant mortality among Old World blackbirds in Vienna.[3] The first human case outside of Africa was reported in Italy in 2009, where an immunocompromised patient was infected, causing encephalitis.[4]
USUV's host range includes primarily Culex mosquitoes, birds, and humans.[2] A 2008-2009 survey of mosquitoes and birds in Emilia-Romagna detected USUV in 89 Culex pipiens pools and in 2 Aedes albopictus pools. Twelve wild birds, primarily European Magpies (Pica pica), Hooded Crows (Corvus cornix), and Eurasian Jays (Garrulus glandarius), were determined to be USUV-positive.[5] USUV detection in mosquito species confirms the role of Culex pipiens as the main vector and the possible involvement of Aedes albopictus in the virus cycle.[5]
References
- ↑ McIntosh, Bruce M. (1985). "Usutu (SA Ar 1776), nouvel arbovirus du groupe B.". International Catalogue of Arboviruses. 3: 1059–1060.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Nikolay, Birgit; Diallo, Mawlouth; Boye, Cheikh Saad Bouh; Sall, Amadou Alpha (November 2011). "Usutu Virus in Africa". Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases. 11 (11): 1417–1423. doi:10.1089/vbz.2011.0631. PMID 21767160.
- ↑ Weissenböck, H.; Kolodziejek, J.; Url, A.; Lussy, H.; Rebel-Bauder, B.; Nowotny, N. (July 2002). "Emergence of Usutu virus, an African Mosquito-Borne Flavivirus of the Japanese Encephalitis Virus Group, Central Europe" (PDF). Emerging Infectious Diseases. 8 (7): 652–656. doi:10.3201/eid0807.020094. PMC 2730324
. PMID 12095429. - ↑ Pecorari, M.; Longo, G.; Gennari, W.; Grottola, A.; Sabbatini, A.; Tagliazucchi, S.; Savini, G.; Monaco, F.; Simone, M. (17 December 2009). "First human case of Usutu virus neuroinvasive infection, Italy, August-September 2009". Eurosurveillance. 14 (50). PMID 20070936.
- 1 2 Calzolari M, Gaibani P, Bellini R, Defilippo F, Pierro A, Albieri A, et al. (2012) Mosquito, Bird and Human Surveillance of West Nile and Usutu Viruses in Emilia-Romagna Region (Italy) in 2010. PLoS ONE 7(5): e38058; http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0038058.