Different dynamics of Usutu virus infections in Austria and Hungary, 2017-2018.

ABSTRACT: Usutu virus (USUV), a mosquito-borne flavivirus closely related to West Nile virus, emerged in Austria in 2001, when it caused a considerable mass-mortality of Eurasian blackbirds. Cases in birds increased until 2003 and quickly declined thereafter, presumably due to developing herd immunity. Since 2006, no further cases were recorded, until two blackbirds were tested positive in 2016. In Hungary, USUV first appeared in 2005 and has caused only sporadic infections since then. Initially, the only genetic USUV lineage found across both countries was Europe 1. This changed in 2015/2016, when Europe 2 emerged, which has since then become the prevalent lineage. Due to dispersal of these strains and introduction of new genetic lineages, USUV infections are now widespread across Europe. In 2009,

SUBMITTER: Weidinger P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7003936 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature