Experimental Usutu virus infection in Eurasian blackbirds (Turdus merula).

Npj viruses Pub Date : 2025-06-20 DOI:10.1038/s44298-025-00133-w

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

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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.

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欧亚黑鸟（Turdus merula）中Usutu病毒的实验感染。

Usutu病毒（USUV）是一种引起野生鸟类和人类疾病的人畜共患虫媒病毒。欧亚黑鸟（Turdus merula）极易受到感染，在疫情爆发期间形成严重病变，死亡率高。鸟类急性疾病的发病机制和临床病程尚不清楚。因此，6只黑鸟感染了两个USUV谱系（非洲3号和欧洲3号）。对黑鹂的临床症状和活动水平进行监测，并取样进行病毒检测。感染后4 ~ 7 d，黑鹂均出现严重疾病，不同谱系间无显著差异。到达人道终点后，黑鹂被安乐死，并收集组织样本进行组织病理学和病毒学研究。在组织病理学上，病变见于主要靶器官，并伴有感染性病毒和病毒抗原的存在。综上所述，黑鹂可以通过实验感染USUV，并表现出与自然感染相似的疾病。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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Npj viruses

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