Lower Bird Evenness and Diversity Are Associated With Higher Usutu Prevalence in Culex pipiens Mosquitoes.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

The mosquito-transmitted Usutu virus has spread in the last few years, becoming endemic in several areas of Europe, such as in the southern French region of the Camargue. Our aim was to study the relationships between the presence of the viral agent in Culex mosquitoes and the structure of bird communities in the context of the dilution effect.

Methods

We carried out mosquito and bird censuses in several selected localities across a land-use gradient and screened mosquito pools for flaviviruses. We focused on exploring how host bird diversity, richness, abundance and evenness were associated with Usutu detection in Cx. pipiens.

Results

Usutu virus was detected in seven pools of Cx. pipiens, and phylogenetic analysis identified Usutu lineage Africa 3, conf

SUBMITTER: Rodriguez-Valencia V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12016009 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature