Vertical transmission in field-caught mosquitoes identifies a mechanism for the establishment of Usutu virus in a temperate country
Abstract Usutu virus (USUV) is an emerging zoonotic flavivirus in Europe and the first zoonotic mosquito-borne virus to be confirmed in animal hosts in the United Kingdom (UK). Repeated detection of USUV in the years following its initial detection in 2020 indicated that the virus is overwintering i...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-09335-x |
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| author | Mirjam Schilling Becki Lawson Simon Spiro Madhujot Jagdev Alexander G. C. Vaux Robert C. Bruce Colin J. Johnston Anthony J. Abbott Ethan Wrigglesworth Paul Pearce-Kelly Andrew A. Cunningham Jolyon M. Medlock Nicholas Johnson Arran J. Folly |
| author_facet | Mirjam Schilling Becki Lawson Simon Spiro Madhujot Jagdev Alexander G. C. Vaux Robert C. Bruce Colin J. Johnston Anthony J. Abbott Ethan Wrigglesworth Paul Pearce-Kelly Andrew A. Cunningham Jolyon M. Medlock Nicholas Johnson Arran J. Folly |
| author_sort | Mirjam Schilling |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Usutu virus (USUV) is an emerging zoonotic flavivirus in Europe and the first zoonotic mosquito-borne virus to be confirmed in animal hosts in the United Kingdom (UK). Repeated detection of USUV in the years following its initial detection in 2020 indicated that the virus is overwintering in the UK and should now be considered endemic within southeast England. Surveillance of avian hosts and mosquito vectors has been insufficient to elucidate the mechanism by which USUV has persisted through temperate winters. Through enhanced targeted vector surveillance at the index site between 2021 and 2024 inclusive, we detected USUV RNA in host-seeking adult female Culex pipiens s.l. as well as in adults reared from field-caught larvae. This is, to our knowledge, the first description of vertical transmission of USUV in an arthropod vector that should consequently be considered a viable mechanism for the persistence of USUV in temperate areas. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e3251e5133eb425aa6bc0b0db7a80677 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-e3251e5133eb425aa6bc0b0db7a806772025-08-20T03:46:04ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-011511810.1038/s41598-025-09335-xVertical transmission in field-caught mosquitoes identifies a mechanism for the establishment of Usutu virus in a temperate countryMirjam Schilling0Becki Lawson1Simon Spiro2Madhujot Jagdev3Alexander G. C. Vaux4Robert C. Bruce5Colin J. Johnston6Anthony J. Abbott7Ethan Wrigglesworth8Paul Pearce-Kelly9Andrew A. Cunningham10Jolyon M. Medlock11Nicholas Johnson12Arran J. Folly13Virology Department, Animal and Plant Health AgencyInstitute of Zoology, Zoological Society of LondonWildlife Health Services, Zoological Society of LondonVirology Department, Animal and Plant Health AgencyMedical Entomology and Zoonoses Ecology Group, UK Health Security AgencyVirology Department, Animal and Plant Health AgencyMedical Entomology and Zoonoses Ecology Group, UK Health Security AgencyMedical Entomology and Zoonoses Ecology Group, UK Health Security AgencyWildlife Health Services, Zoological Society of LondonZoological Society of LondonInstitute of Zoology, Zoological Society of LondonMedical Entomology and Zoonoses Ecology Group, UK Health Security AgencyVirology Department, Animal and Plant Health AgencyVirology Department, Animal and Plant Health AgencyAbstract Usutu virus (USUV) is an emerging zoonotic flavivirus in Europe and the first zoonotic mosquito-borne virus to be confirmed in animal hosts in the United Kingdom (UK). Repeated detection of USUV in the years following its initial detection in 2020 indicated that the virus is overwintering in the UK and should now be considered endemic within southeast England. Surveillance of avian hosts and mosquito vectors has been insufficient to elucidate the mechanism by which USUV has persisted through temperate winters. Through enhanced targeted vector surveillance at the index site between 2021 and 2024 inclusive, we detected USUV RNA in host-seeking adult female Culex pipiens s.l. as well as in adults reared from field-caught larvae. This is, to our knowledge, the first description of vertical transmission of USUV in an arthropod vector that should consequently be considered a viable mechanism for the persistence of USUV in temperate areas.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-09335-xFlavivirusCulex pipiensVertical transmissionEmerging infectious diseaseMosquito-borne diseaseOverwintering |
| spellingShingle | Mirjam Schilling Becki Lawson Simon Spiro Madhujot Jagdev Alexander G. C. Vaux Robert C. Bruce Colin J. Johnston Anthony J. Abbott Ethan Wrigglesworth Paul Pearce-Kelly Andrew A. Cunningham Jolyon M. Medlock Nicholas Johnson Arran J. Folly Vertical transmission in field-caught mosquitoes identifies a mechanism for the establishment of Usutu virus in a temperate country Scientific Reports Flavivirus Culex pipiens Vertical transmission Emerging infectious disease Mosquito-borne disease Overwintering |
| title | Vertical transmission in field-caught mosquitoes identifies a mechanism for the establishment of Usutu virus in a temperate country |
| title_full | Vertical transmission in field-caught mosquitoes identifies a mechanism for the establishment of Usutu virus in a temperate country |
| title_fullStr | Vertical transmission in field-caught mosquitoes identifies a mechanism for the establishment of Usutu virus in a temperate country |
| title_full_unstemmed | Vertical transmission in field-caught mosquitoes identifies a mechanism for the establishment of Usutu virus in a temperate country |
| title_short | Vertical transmission in field-caught mosquitoes identifies a mechanism for the establishment of Usutu virus in a temperate country |
| title_sort | vertical transmission in field caught mosquitoes identifies a mechanism for the establishment of usutu virus in a temperate country |
| topic | Flavivirus Culex pipiens Vertical transmission Emerging infectious disease Mosquito-borne disease Overwintering |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-09335-x |
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