In Vitro and In Vivo Models to Study the Zoonotic Mosquito-Borne Usutu Virus.

ABSTRACT: Usutu virus (USUV), a mosquito-borne zoonotic flavivirus discovered in South Africa in 1959, has spread to many European countries over the last 20 years. The virus is currently a major concern for animal health due to its expanding host range and the growing number of avian mass mortality events. Although human infections with USUV are often asymptomatic, they are occasionally accompanied by neurological complications reminiscent of those due to West Nile virus (another flavivirus closely related to USUV). Whilst USUV actually appears less threatening than some other emergent arboviruses, the lessons learned from Chikungunya, Dengue, and Zika viruses during the past few years should not be ignored. Further, it would not be surprising if, with time, USUV disperses further eastwards towards

SUBMITTER: Benzarti E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7599730 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature