One Health approach uncovers emergence and dynamics of Usutu and West Nile viruses in the Netherlands
Abstract Mosquito-borne arboviruses, including Usutu virus (USUV) and West Nile virus (WNV), are emerging threats in Europe, with changes in climate, land use shifts, and increasing global connectivity influencing their dynamics. Understanding how these viruses emerge and establish in new regions is...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-63122-w |
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| author | Emmanuelle Münger Nnomzie C. Atama Jurrian van Irsel Rody Blom Louie Krol Tjomme van Mastrigt Tijs J. van den Berg Marieta Braks Ankje de Vries Anne van der Linden Irina Chestakova Marjan Boter Felicity D. Chandler Robert Kohl David F. Nieuwenhuijse Mathilde Uiterwijk Ron A. M. Fouchier Hein Sprong Andrea Gröne Constantianus J. M. Koenraadt Maarten Schrama Chantal B. E. M. Reusken Arjan Stroo Judith M. A. van den Brand Henk P. van der Jeugd Bas B. Oude Munnink Reina S. Sikkema Marion P. G. Koopmans |
| author_facet | Emmanuelle Münger Nnomzie C. Atama Jurrian van Irsel Rody Blom Louie Krol Tjomme van Mastrigt Tijs J. van den Berg Marieta Braks Ankje de Vries Anne van der Linden Irina Chestakova Marjan Boter Felicity D. Chandler Robert Kohl David F. Nieuwenhuijse Mathilde Uiterwijk Ron A. M. Fouchier Hein Sprong Andrea Gröne Constantianus J. M. Koenraadt Maarten Schrama Chantal B. E. M. Reusken Arjan Stroo Judith M. A. van den Brand Henk P. van der Jeugd Bas B. Oude Munnink Reina S. Sikkema Marion P. G. Koopmans |
| author_sort | Emmanuelle Münger |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Mosquito-borne arboviruses, including Usutu virus (USUV) and West Nile virus (WNV), are emerging threats in Europe, with changes in climate, land use shifts, and increasing global connectivity influencing their dynamics. Understanding how these viruses emerge and establish in new regions is critical for mitigating risks and improving public and wildlife health preparedness. Here, we present a seven-year study (2016–2022, inclusive) documenting the emergence and spread of USUV and WNV in the Netherlands. We established a nationwide sampling framework integrating live birds sampling by volunteer ringers, dead birds referrals by citizen scientists and zoos, and mosquito trapping. Samples were analyzed using molecular, genomic, and serological methods. USUV was first detected in the Netherlands in 2016, caused major outbreaks in birds until 2018 and resurged in 2022. The dominant, enzootic lineage, Africa 3, co-circulated with sporadic introductions of lineage Europe 3. The first localized WNV lineage 2 outbreak occurred in live birds and mosquitoes in 2020, followed by a detection in a bird in 2022 and serological evidence of continued circulation, suggesting WNV is in an early stage of establishment. Our findings were crucial in detecting a human WNV outbreak, underscoring the value of integrated wildlife studies in detecting emerging threats to public health. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8238304ad3dc4123be67e6f460eb042a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-8238304ad3dc4123be67e6f460eb042a2025-08-24T11:36:53ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-08-0116111410.1038/s41467-025-63122-wOne Health approach uncovers emergence and dynamics of Usutu and West Nile viruses in the NetherlandsEmmanuelle Münger0Nnomzie C. Atama1Jurrian van Irsel2Rody Blom3Louie Krol4Tjomme van Mastrigt5Tijs J. van den Berg6Marieta Braks7Ankje de Vries8Anne van der Linden9Irina Chestakova10Marjan Boter11Felicity D. Chandler12Robert Kohl13David F. Nieuwenhuijse14Mathilde Uiterwijk15Ron A. M. Fouchier16Hein Sprong17Andrea Gröne18Constantianus J. M. Koenraadt19Maarten Schrama20Chantal B. E. M. Reusken21Arjan Stroo22Judith M. A. van den Brand23Henk P. van der Jeugd24Bas B. Oude Munnink25Reina S. Sikkema26Marion P. G. Koopmans27Viroscience, Erasmus MCViroscience, Erasmus MCVogeltrekstation - Dutch Centre for Avian Migration and Demography, NIOO-KNAWLaboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University and ResearchInstitute of Environmental Sciences, Leiden UniversityVogeltrekstation - Dutch Centre for Avian Migration and Demography, NIOO-KNAWVogeltrekstation - Dutch Centre for Avian Migration and Demography, NIOO-KNAWCentre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM)Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM)Viroscience, Erasmus MCViroscience, Erasmus MCViroscience, Erasmus MCViroscience, Erasmus MCViroscience, Erasmus MCViroscience, Erasmus MCCentre for Monitoring of Vectors (CMV), Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA)Viroscience, Erasmus MCCentre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM)Dutch Wildlife Health Centre (DWHC), Utrecht UniveristyLaboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University and ResearchInstitute of Environmental Sciences, Leiden UniversityViroscience, Erasmus MCCentre for Monitoring of Vectors (CMV), Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA)Dutch Wildlife Health Centre (DWHC), Utrecht UniveristyVogeltrekstation - Dutch Centre for Avian Migration and Demography, NIOO-KNAWViroscience, Erasmus MCViroscience, Erasmus MCViroscience, Erasmus MCAbstract Mosquito-borne arboviruses, including Usutu virus (USUV) and West Nile virus (WNV), are emerging threats in Europe, with changes in climate, land use shifts, and increasing global connectivity influencing their dynamics. Understanding how these viruses emerge and establish in new regions is critical for mitigating risks and improving public and wildlife health preparedness. Here, we present a seven-year study (2016–2022, inclusive) documenting the emergence and spread of USUV and WNV in the Netherlands. We established a nationwide sampling framework integrating live birds sampling by volunteer ringers, dead birds referrals by citizen scientists and zoos, and mosquito trapping. Samples were analyzed using molecular, genomic, and serological methods. USUV was first detected in the Netherlands in 2016, caused major outbreaks in birds until 2018 and resurged in 2022. The dominant, enzootic lineage, Africa 3, co-circulated with sporadic introductions of lineage Europe 3. The first localized WNV lineage 2 outbreak occurred in live birds and mosquitoes in 2020, followed by a detection in a bird in 2022 and serological evidence of continued circulation, suggesting WNV is in an early stage of establishment. Our findings were crucial in detecting a human WNV outbreak, underscoring the value of integrated wildlife studies in detecting emerging threats to public health.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-63122-w |
| spellingShingle | Emmanuelle Münger Nnomzie C. Atama Jurrian van Irsel Rody Blom Louie Krol Tjomme van Mastrigt Tijs J. van den Berg Marieta Braks Ankje de Vries Anne van der Linden Irina Chestakova Marjan Boter Felicity D. Chandler Robert Kohl David F. Nieuwenhuijse Mathilde Uiterwijk Ron A. M. Fouchier Hein Sprong Andrea Gröne Constantianus J. M. Koenraadt Maarten Schrama Chantal B. E. M. Reusken Arjan Stroo Judith M. A. van den Brand Henk P. van der Jeugd Bas B. Oude Munnink Reina S. Sikkema Marion P. G. Koopmans One Health approach uncovers emergence and dynamics of Usutu and West Nile viruses in the Netherlands Nature Communications |
| title | One Health approach uncovers emergence and dynamics of Usutu and West Nile viruses in the Netherlands |
| title_full | One Health approach uncovers emergence and dynamics of Usutu and West Nile viruses in the Netherlands |
| title_fullStr | One Health approach uncovers emergence and dynamics of Usutu and West Nile viruses in the Netherlands |
| title_full_unstemmed | One Health approach uncovers emergence and dynamics of Usutu and West Nile viruses in the Netherlands |
| title_short | One Health approach uncovers emergence and dynamics of Usutu and West Nile viruses in the Netherlands |
| title_sort | one health approach uncovers emergence and dynamics of usutu and west nile viruses in the netherlands |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-63122-w |
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