Experimental Usutu virus infection in Eurasian blackbirds (Turdus merula)
Abstract Usutu virus (USUV) is a zoonotic arbovirus causing disease in wild birds and humans. Eurasian blackbirds (Turdus merula) are highly susceptible to infection, developing severe lesions with high mortality rates during outbreaks. The pathogenesis and clinical course of the acute disease in bi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-06-01
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| Series: | npj Viruses |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s44298-025-00133-w |
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| author | Gianfilippo Agliani Imke Visser Eleanor M. Marshall Giuseppe Giglia Erwin de Bruin Ruben Verstappen Tjomme van Mastrigt Felicity Chandler Reina Sikkema Henk van der Jeugd Marion P. G. Koopmans Andrea Gröne Barry Rockx Judith M. A. van den Brand |
| author_facet | Gianfilippo Agliani Imke Visser Eleanor M. Marshall Giuseppe Giglia Erwin de Bruin Ruben Verstappen Tjomme van Mastrigt Felicity Chandler Reina Sikkema Henk van der Jeugd Marion P. G. Koopmans Andrea Gröne Barry Rockx Judith M. A. van den Brand |
| author_sort | Gianfilippo Agliani |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Usutu virus (USUV) is a zoonotic arbovirus causing disease in wild birds and humans. Eurasian blackbirds (Turdus merula) are highly susceptible to infection, developing severe lesions with high mortality rates during outbreaks. The pathogenesis and clinical course of the acute disease in birds are not known. Therefore, six blackbirds were infected with two USUV lineages (Africa 3 and Europe 3). The blackbirds were monitored for clinical signs of disease and activity levels and were sampled for virus detection. All infected blackbirds showed severe disease after 4 to 7 days, with no significant differences between the lineages. Reaching a humane endpoint, the blackbirds were euthanized, and tissue samples were collected for histopathology and virology. At histopathology, lesions were seen in the main target organs with the associated presence of infectious virus and viral antigen. In conclusion, blackbirds can be infected experimentally with USUV and show similar disease as seen in natural infection. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1d4fcf3bba7b4051b827a2cc273c809c |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2948-1767 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | npj Viruses |
| spelling | doaj-art-1d4fcf3bba7b4051b827a2cc273c809c2025-08-20T02:36:50ZengNature Portfolionpj Viruses2948-17672025-06-013111010.1038/s44298-025-00133-wExperimental Usutu virus infection in Eurasian blackbirds (Turdus merula)Gianfilippo Agliani0Imke Visser1Eleanor M. Marshall2Giuseppe Giglia3Erwin de Bruin4Ruben Verstappen5Tjomme van Mastrigt6Felicity Chandler7Reina Sikkema8Henk van der Jeugd9Marion P. G. Koopmans10Andrea Gröne11Barry Rockx12Judith M. A. van den Brand13Division of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht UniversityDepartment of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical CenterDepartment of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical CenterDivision of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht UniversityDivision of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht UniversityDivision of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht UniversityDepartment of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW)Department of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical CenterDepartment of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical CenterDepartment of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW)Department of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical CenterDivision of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht UniversityDepartment of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical CenterDivision of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht UniversityAbstract Usutu virus (USUV) is a zoonotic arbovirus causing disease in wild birds and humans. Eurasian blackbirds (Turdus merula) are highly susceptible to infection, developing severe lesions with high mortality rates during outbreaks. The pathogenesis and clinical course of the acute disease in birds are not known. Therefore, six blackbirds were infected with two USUV lineages (Africa 3 and Europe 3). The blackbirds were monitored for clinical signs of disease and activity levels and were sampled for virus detection. All infected blackbirds showed severe disease after 4 to 7 days, with no significant differences between the lineages. Reaching a humane endpoint, the blackbirds were euthanized, and tissue samples were collected for histopathology and virology. At histopathology, lesions were seen in the main target organs with the associated presence of infectious virus and viral antigen. In conclusion, blackbirds can be infected experimentally with USUV and show similar disease as seen in natural infection.https://doi.org/10.1038/s44298-025-00133-w |
| spellingShingle | Gianfilippo Agliani Imke Visser Eleanor M. Marshall Giuseppe Giglia Erwin de Bruin Ruben Verstappen Tjomme van Mastrigt Felicity Chandler Reina Sikkema Henk van der Jeugd Marion P. G. Koopmans Andrea Gröne Barry Rockx Judith M. A. van den Brand Experimental Usutu virus infection in Eurasian blackbirds (Turdus merula) npj Viruses |
| title | Experimental Usutu virus infection in Eurasian blackbirds (Turdus merula) |
| title_full | Experimental Usutu virus infection in Eurasian blackbirds (Turdus merula) |
| title_fullStr | Experimental Usutu virus infection in Eurasian blackbirds (Turdus merula) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Experimental Usutu virus infection in Eurasian blackbirds (Turdus merula) |
| title_short | Experimental Usutu virus infection in Eurasian blackbirds (Turdus merula) |
| title_sort | experimental usutu virus infection in eurasian blackbirds turdus merula |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s44298-025-00133-w |
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