Abstract
Usutu virus (USUV), a member of the mosquito-borne clade within the Flaviviridae family, was responsible for avian mortality in Austria in 2001. In 2002, the virus continued to kill birds, predominantly blackbirds. High numbers of avian deaths were recorded within the city of Vienna and in surrounding districts of the federal state of Lower Austria, while single die-offs were noticed in the federal states of Styria and Burgenland. A total of 72 birds were submitted for laboratory examination, 30 of which tested positive for USUV by immunohistochemistry and/or polymerase chain reaction. Laboratory-confirmed cases of USUV infection originated from the federal states of Vienna and Lower Austria only. The data show that (i) USUV has managed to overwinter and has been able to establish a transmission cycle in Austria, (ii) the virus seems to have become a resident pathogen of Austria with a tendency to spread to other geographic areas, and (iii) the surveillance of dead blackbirds is a useful sentinel system for monitoring USUV activity.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1132-1136 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Microbes and Infection |
| Volume | 5 |
| Issue number | 12 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Oct 2003 |
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Keywords
- Austria
- Avian mortality
- Usutu virus
- USUV
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
Cite this
Usutu virus activity in Austria, 2001-2002. / Weissenböck, Herbert; Kolodziejek, Jolanta; Fragner, Karin; Kuhn, Roland; Pfeffer, Martin; Nowotny, Norbert.
In: Microbes and Infection, Vol. 5, No. 12, 10.2003, p. 1132-1136.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Usutu virus activity in Austria, 2001-2002
AU - Weissenböck, Herbert
AU - Kolodziejek, Jolanta
AU - Fragner, Karin
AU - Kuhn, Roland
AU - Pfeffer, Martin
AU - Nowotny, Norbert
PY - 2003/10
Y1 - 2003/10
N2 - Usutu virus (USUV), a member of the mosquito-borne clade within the Flaviviridae family, was responsible for avian mortality in Austria in 2001. In 2002, the virus continued to kill birds, predominantly blackbirds. High numbers of avian deaths were recorded within the city of Vienna and in surrounding districts of the federal state of Lower Austria, while single die-offs were noticed in the federal states of Styria and Burgenland. A total of 72 birds were submitted for laboratory examination, 30 of which tested positive for USUV by immunohistochemistry and/or polymerase chain reaction. Laboratory-confirmed cases of USUV infection originated from the federal states of Vienna and Lower Austria only. The data show that (i) USUV has managed to overwinter and has been able to establish a transmission cycle in Austria, (ii) the virus seems to have become a resident pathogen of Austria with a tendency to spread to other geographic areas, and (iii) the surveillance of dead blackbirds is a useful sentinel system for monitoring USUV activity.
AB - Usutu virus (USUV), a member of the mosquito-borne clade within the Flaviviridae family, was responsible for avian mortality in Austria in 2001. In 2002, the virus continued to kill birds, predominantly blackbirds. High numbers of avian deaths were recorded within the city of Vienna and in surrounding districts of the federal state of Lower Austria, while single die-offs were noticed in the federal states of Styria and Burgenland. A total of 72 birds were submitted for laboratory examination, 30 of which tested positive for USUV by immunohistochemistry and/or polymerase chain reaction. Laboratory-confirmed cases of USUV infection originated from the federal states of Vienna and Lower Austria only. The data show that (i) USUV has managed to overwinter and has been able to establish a transmission cycle in Austria, (ii) the virus seems to have become a resident pathogen of Austria with a tendency to spread to other geographic areas, and (iii) the surveillance of dead blackbirds is a useful sentinel system for monitoring USUV activity.
KW - Austria
KW - Avian mortality
KW - Usutu virus
KW - USUV
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U2 - 10.1016/S1286-4579(03)00204-1
DO - 10.1016/S1286-4579(03)00204-1
M3 - Article
C2 - 14554255
AN - SCOPUS:0141526356
VL - 5
SP - 1132
EP - 1136
JO - Microbes and Infection
JF - Microbes and Infection
SN - 1286-4579
IS - 12
ER -