Longitudinal Study of the Occurrence of Usutu Virus and West Nile Virus Infections in Birds in a Zoological Garden in Northern Germany
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Published:2023-05-23
Issue:6
Volume:12
Page:753
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ISSN:2076-0817
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Container-title:Pathogens
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language:en
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Short-container-title:Pathogens
Author:
Bergmann Felicitas1ORCID, Schmoock-Wellhausen Martina23, Fast Christine1ORCID, Holicki Cora M.1ORCID, Michel Friederike1, Wysocki Patrick4, Sadeghi Balal1, Groschup Martin H.1ORCID, Ziegler Ute1ORCID
Affiliation:
1. Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Disease, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany 2. Wildpark Schwarze Berge GmbH & Co. KG, Am Wildpark 1, 21224 Rosengarten, Germany 3. Tiermedizin am Rothenbaum, Rothenbaumchaussee 195, 20149 Hamburg, Germany 4. Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
Abstract
Usutu virus (USUV) and West Nile virus (WNV) are known to cause diseases and mortalities in bird populations. Since 2010/2011, USUV has circulated in Germany and spread nationwide, while WNV was only introduced into East Germany in 2018. The zoological garden investigated is located in Northern Germany, where USUV infections in wild birds have been detected for several years. In this longitudinal study conducted over a four-year period, zoo birds were sampled biannually and screened for molecular and serological evidence of USUV and WNV. USUV genomes were detected in eight of the sampled birds and whole-genome sequences revealed the circulation of USUV lineages Europe 3 and Africa 3. Of the eight birds infected with USUV during the study period, four died after the infection, while four survived without displaying clinical signs. Furthermore, in a few of the birds, a USUV (re-)infection was confirmed on a serological level with three birds producing USUV-neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) over a period of four years. Nonetheless, in two birds sampled throughout this longitudinal study, neither a USUV nor a WNV infection was evident. In 2022, WNV nAbs were detected for the first time in a juvenile zoo bird, indicating the introduction of the virus into this region.
Funder
German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture
Subject
Infectious Diseases,Microbiology (medical),General Immunology and Microbiology,Molecular Biology,Immunology and Allergy
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