Abstract
In August 2020, as part of a long-term disease surveillance programme, Usutu virus was detected in five Eurasian blackbirds (Turdus merula) and one house sparrow (Passer domesticus) from Greater London, England. This was initially detected by reverse transcription-PCR and was confirmed by virus isolation and by immunohistochemical detection of flavivirus in tissues. Phylogenetic analysis identified Usutu virus African 3.2 lineage, which is prevalent in the Netherlands and Belgium, suggesting a potential incursion from mainland Europe.
Highlights
In August 2020, as part of a long-term disease surveillance programme, Usutu virus was detected in five Eurasian blackbirds (Turdus merula) and one house sparrow (Passer domesticus) from Greater London, England
Epizootics involving large-scale bird dieoffs have occurred across mainland Europe, including Belgium and the Netherlands [2,3], but with no evidence of emergence in the United Kingdom (UK)
As part of a long-term disease surveillance programme in Great Britain (2005 until present), coordinated by the Institute of Zoology and the Animal and Plant Health Agency, morbidity and mortality in wild birds is recorded and carcasses are submitted for post-mortem examination (PME)
Summary
Citation style for this article: Folly Arran J , Lawson Becki , Lean Fabian ZX , McCracken Fiona , Spiro Simon , John Shinto K , Heaver Joseph P , Seilern-Moy Katharina , Masters Nic , HernándezTriana Luis M , Phipps L Paul , Nuñez Alejandro , Fooks Anthony R , Cunningham Andrew A , Johnson Nicholas , McElhinney Lorraine M. In August 2020, as part of a long-term disease surveillance programme, Usutu virus was detected in five Eurasian blackbirds (Turdus merula) and one house sparrow (Passer domesticus) from Greater London, England. This was initially detected by reverse transcription-PCR and was confirmed by virus isolation and by immunohistochemical detection of flavivirus in tissues. Emergence is understood to be facilitated by the movement of wild birds, the vertebrate reservoir, and mosquitoes, the arthropod vector. This presents a risk of virus introduction to the United Kingdom (UK). We confirm the details of the initial detection and molecular characterisation of the virus
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