Absence of West Nile and Usutu Virus Persistence in Overwintering Mosquitoes in Northeastern France: Insights from Cold-Season Surveillance.

ABSTRACT: Emerging arboviruses of the Orthoflavivirus genus such as West Nile virus (WNV) and Usutu virus (USUV), primarily transmitted by Culex mosquitoes, pose significant public health threats due to their ability to cause severe neurological diseases in humans and animals. While studies in North America and Central Europe have shown that these viruses can persist in overwintering mosquitoes, their role in viral maintenance during the cold season in northeastern France remains unknown. This study aimed to assess whether overwintering female mosquitoes in this region could harbor WNV or USUV during the cold season, potentially maintaining viral circulation until the following transmission season. Between October 2021 and February 2024, a total of 10,617 overwintering female mosquitoe

SUBMITTER: Jourdan P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12474421 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature