Evolutionary dynamics of Usutu virus: Worldwide dispersal patterns and transmission dynamics in Europe
Authors
Šiljić, Marina
Sehovic, Rastko
Janković, Marko
Stamenković, Gorana

Lončar, Ana
Todorović, Marija
Stanojević, Maja
Ćirković, Valentina

Article (Published version)
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Background: Usutu virus (USUV) is an emerging mosquito-borne Flavivirus, with birds as the main zoonotic reservoir. Humans are accidental hosts and mostly develop mild or even asymptomatic infections, although severe complications such as encephalitis can also arise. Detailed characterization of the pathogen's phylogenetics may offer valuable insights into the prediction and prevention of potential epidemics; however, lack of uniformity and the number of available USUV sequences worldwide hamper comprehensive investigation. Aim: The study aimed to investigate USUV spatio-temporal dispersal inter- and intracontinentally and to estimate the dynamics of viral spread within Europe. Methods: Phylogeographic and phylodynamic analyses were done using advanced phylogenetic methods implemented in Beast 1.10.4 and Beast 2.6.4 software packages. Results: Herein, we report on a new USUV isolate from Culex pipiens collected in 2019 from Serbia. The results of this research revealed two newly des...cribed intercontinental migration events of USUV from Africa to Germany in the 1970s and from Africa to the Middle East (Israel) in the late 90s. Finally, phylodynamic analysis substantiated the ongoing active expansion of USUV in Europe. Conclusion: The data would imply a high potential for further USUV expansion in Europe. Detailed phylogenetic characterization of the pathogen may offer valuable insights into prediction and prevention of potential epidemics; however, lack of uniformity and number of available USUV sequences worldwide hampers comprehensive investigation. This study draws attention to the need for upscaling USUV surveillance.
Keywords:
Usutu virus / phylogeography / phylodynamics / evolutionary dynamic / mosquito vectors / emerging diseaseSource:
Frontiers in Microbiology, 2023, 14, 1145981-Publisher:
- Frontiers Media S.A.
Funding / projects:
- IN-DEPTH - An Evolutionary Insight Into Molecular Diversity of Emerging Pathogens in Serbia Through Phylogenetic Approach (RS-6059147)
- Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Republic of Serbia, Grant no. 200110 (University of Belgrade, Faculty of Medicine) (RS-200110)
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Institut za medicinska istraživanjaTY - JOUR AU - Šiljić, Marina AU - Sehovic, Rastko AU - Janković, Marko AU - Stamenković, Gorana AU - Lončar, Ana AU - Todorović, Marija AU - Stanojević, Maja AU - Ćirković, Valentina PY - 2023 UR - http://rimi.imi.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/1283 AB - Background: Usutu virus (USUV) is an emerging mosquito-borne Flavivirus, with birds as the main zoonotic reservoir. Humans are accidental hosts and mostly develop mild or even asymptomatic infections, although severe complications such as encephalitis can also arise. Detailed characterization of the pathogen's phylogenetics may offer valuable insights into the prediction and prevention of potential epidemics; however, lack of uniformity and the number of available USUV sequences worldwide hamper comprehensive investigation. Aim: The study aimed to investigate USUV spatio-temporal dispersal inter- and intracontinentally and to estimate the dynamics of viral spread within Europe. Methods: Phylogeographic and phylodynamic analyses were done using advanced phylogenetic methods implemented in Beast 1.10.4 and Beast 2.6.4 software packages. Results: Herein, we report on a new USUV isolate from Culex pipiens collected in 2019 from Serbia. The results of this research revealed two newly described intercontinental migration events of USUV from Africa to Germany in the 1970s and from Africa to the Middle East (Israel) in the late 90s. Finally, phylodynamic analysis substantiated the ongoing active expansion of USUV in Europe. Conclusion: The data would imply a high potential for further USUV expansion in Europe. Detailed phylogenetic characterization of the pathogen may offer valuable insights into prediction and prevention of potential epidemics; however, lack of uniformity and number of available USUV sequences worldwide hampers comprehensive investigation. This study draws attention to the need for upscaling USUV surveillance. PB - Frontiers Media S.A. T2 - Frontiers in Microbiology T1 - Evolutionary dynamics of Usutu virus: Worldwide dispersal patterns and transmission dynamics in Europe SP - 1145981 VL - 14 DO - 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1145981 ER -
@article{ author = "Šiljić, Marina and Sehovic, Rastko and Janković, Marko and Stamenković, Gorana and Lončar, Ana and Todorović, Marija and Stanojević, Maja and Ćirković, Valentina", year = "2023", abstract = "Background: Usutu virus (USUV) is an emerging mosquito-borne Flavivirus, with birds as the main zoonotic reservoir. Humans are accidental hosts and mostly develop mild or even asymptomatic infections, although severe complications such as encephalitis can also arise. Detailed characterization of the pathogen's phylogenetics may offer valuable insights into the prediction and prevention of potential epidemics; however, lack of uniformity and the number of available USUV sequences worldwide hamper comprehensive investigation. Aim: The study aimed to investigate USUV spatio-temporal dispersal inter- and intracontinentally and to estimate the dynamics of viral spread within Europe. Methods: Phylogeographic and phylodynamic analyses were done using advanced phylogenetic methods implemented in Beast 1.10.4 and Beast 2.6.4 software packages. Results: Herein, we report on a new USUV isolate from Culex pipiens collected in 2019 from Serbia. The results of this research revealed two newly described intercontinental migration events of USUV from Africa to Germany in the 1970s and from Africa to the Middle East (Israel) in the late 90s. Finally, phylodynamic analysis substantiated the ongoing active expansion of USUV in Europe. Conclusion: The data would imply a high potential for further USUV expansion in Europe. Detailed phylogenetic characterization of the pathogen may offer valuable insights into prediction and prevention of potential epidemics; however, lack of uniformity and number of available USUV sequences worldwide hampers comprehensive investigation. This study draws attention to the need for upscaling USUV surveillance.", publisher = "Frontiers Media S.A.", journal = "Frontiers in Microbiology", title = "Evolutionary dynamics of Usutu virus: Worldwide dispersal patterns and transmission dynamics in Europe", pages = "1145981", volume = "14", doi = "10.3389/fmicb.2023.1145981" }
Šiljić, M., Sehovic, R., Janković, M., Stamenković, G., Lončar, A., Todorović, M., Stanojević, M.,& Ćirković, V.. (2023). Evolutionary dynamics of Usutu virus: Worldwide dispersal patterns and transmission dynamics in Europe. in Frontiers in Microbiology Frontiers Media S.A.., 14, 1145981. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1145981
Šiljić M, Sehovic R, Janković M, Stamenković G, Lončar A, Todorović M, Stanojević M, Ćirković V. Evolutionary dynamics of Usutu virus: Worldwide dispersal patterns and transmission dynamics in Europe. in Frontiers in Microbiology. 2023;14:1145981. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2023.1145981 .
Šiljić, Marina, Sehovic, Rastko, Janković, Marko, Stamenković, Gorana, Lončar, Ana, Todorović, Marija, Stanojević, Maja, Ćirković, Valentina, "Evolutionary dynamics of Usutu virus: Worldwide dispersal patterns and transmission dynamics in Europe" in Frontiers in Microbiology, 14 (2023):1145981, https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1145981 . .