First human case of Usutu virus neuroinvasive infection, Italy, August-September 2009

Pecorari, Monica; Longo, Giuseppe; Gennari, William; Grottola, Antonella; Sabbatini, Anna Maria Teresa; Tagliazucchi, Sara; Savini, Giovanni; Monaco, Federica; Simone, Maria Luisa; Lelli, Rossella; Rumpianesi, Fabio

doi:10.2807/ese.14.50.19446-en

Cited by 208 publications

(53 citation statements)

References 7 publications

(10 reference statements)

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“…Several episodes of mass mortality have been reported in wild birds in Central Europe, with blackbirds ( Turdus merula ) as one of the most affected species ( Weissenböck et al 2003 ; Steinmetz et al 2011 ; Becker et al 2012 ; Benzarti et al 2020 ; Weidinger et al 2020 ). Although USUV has mostly been associated with disease in birds, it can also infect mammals, including humans, sporadically causing neuro-invasive disease ( Pecorari et al 2009 ; Santini et al 2015 ; Grottola et al 2017 ; Barzon 2018 ; Nagy et al 2019 ; Pacenti et al 2019 ; Simonin et al 2018 ; Vilibic-Cavlek et al 2019b ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The central role of Italy in the spatial spread of USUTU virus in Europe

et al. 2021

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USUTU virus (USUV) is an arbovirus maintained in the environment through a bird-mosquito enzootic cycle. Previous surveillance plans highlighted the endemicity of USUV in North-eastern Italy. In this work, we sequenced 138 new USUV full genomes from mosquito pools (Culex pipiens) and wild birds collected in North-eastern Italy and we investigated the evolutionary processes (phylogenetic analysis, selection pressure and evolutionary time-scale analysis) and spatial spread of USUV strains circulating in the European context and in Italy, with a particular focus on North-eastern Italy. Our results confirmed the circulation of viruses belonging to four different lineages in Italy (EU1, EU2, EU3, EU4), with the newly sequenced viruses from the North-eastern regions, Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia, belonging to the EU2 lineage and clustering into two different sub-lineages, EU2-A and EU2-B. Specific mutations characterize each European lineage and geographic location seem to have shaped their phylogenetic structure. By investigating the spatial spread in Europe, we were able to show that Italy acted mainly as donor of USUV to neighbouring countries. At a national level we identified two geographical clusters mainly circulating in Northern and North-western Italy, spreading both northward and southward. Our analyses provide important information on the spatial and evolutionary dynamics of USUTU virus that can help to improve surveillance plans and control strategies for this virus of increasing concern for human health.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The central role of Italy in the spatial spread of USUTU virus in Europe

et al. 2021

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“…The virus was detected in native mosquito pools ( Cx pipiens / Cx torrentium ) [ 8 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ] as well as in an invasive mosquito species ( Aedes japonicus japonicus) [ 17 ]. Human infections are mostly asymptomatic, but can induce rash or, rarely, neuroinvasive disease, particularly in immunocompromised patients [ 22 , 23 , 24 ]. USUV RNA was identified in human blood donations from three eastern Austrian federal states in 2017 with an increasing number of infections in 2018 in southern and western federal states [ 9 , 25 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

West Nile Virus and Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus Are Endemic in Equids in Eastern Austria

Heus

Kolodziejek

Hubálek

et al. 2021

Viruses

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The emergence of West Nile virus (WNV) and Usutu virus (USUV) in addition to the autochthonous tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) in Europe causes rising concern for public and animal health. The first equine case of West Nile neuroinvasive disease in Austria was diagnosed in 2016. As a consequence, a cross-sectional seroprevalence study was conducted in 2017, including 348 equids from eastern Austria. Serum samples reactive by ELISA for either flavivirus immunoglobulin G or M were further analyzed with the plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT-80) to identify the specific etiologic agent. Neutralizing antibody prevalences excluding vaccinated equids were found to be 5.3% for WNV, 15.5% for TBEV, 0% for USUV, and 1.2% for WNV from autochthonous origin. Additionally, reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was performed to detect WNV nucleic acid in horse sera and was found to be negative in all cases. Risk factor analysis did not identify any factors significantly associated with seropositivity.

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“…This result seems strange compared to the positives reported in Italy in previous years and in the same biennium. In fact, since 2006, several outbreaks of USUV were recorded in Central–Northern Italy, with massive mortality in susceptible species [ 62 ], and, in 2009, the first human case was registered [ 63 ]. In recent years, an increase in the number of wild bird cases has been observed.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Survey on the Presence of Viruses of Economic and Zoonotic Importance in Avifauna in Northern Italy

et al. 2021

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Wild birds play an important role in the circulation and spread of pathogens that are potentially zoonotic or of high economic impact on zootechnical production. They include, for example, West Nile virus (WNV), Usutu virus (USUV), avian influenza virus (AIV), and Newcastle disease virus (NDV), which, despite having mostly an asymptomatic course in wild birds, have a strong impact on public health and zootechnical production. This study investigated the presence of these viruses in several wild bird species from North Italy during the biennium 2019–2020. Wild birds derived from 76 different species belonging to 20 orders. Out of 679 birds, 27 were positive for WNV (lineage 2) with a prevalence of 4%; all birds were negative for USUV; one gull was positive for H13N6 influenza virus, and 12 samples were positive for NDV with a prevalence of 2%. Despite the low prevalence observed, the analyses performed on these species provide further data, allowing a better understanding of the diffusion and evolution of diseases of both economic and zoonotic importance.

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First human case of Usutu virus neuroinvasive infection, Italy, August-September 2009

Cited by 208 publications

References 7 publications

The central role of Italy in the spatial spread of USUTU virus in Europe

The central role of Italy in the spatial spread of USUTU virus in Europe

West Nile Virus and Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus Are Endemic in Equids in Eastern Austria

Survey on the Presence of Viruses of Economic and Zoonotic Importance in Avifauna in Northern Italy

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