Schilling Mirjam, Lawson Becki, Spiro Simon, Jagdev Madhujot, Vaux Alexander G C, Bruce Robert C, Johnston Colin J, Abbott Anthony J, Wrigglesworth Ethan, Pearce-Kelly Paul, Cunningham Andrew A, Medlock Jolyon M, Johnson Nicholas, Folly Arran J
Virology Department, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Woodham Lane, Addlestone, KT15 3NB, Surrey, UK.
Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK.
Sci Rep. 2025 Jul 12;15(1):25252. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-09335-x.
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.
乌苏图病毒（USUV）是欧洲一种新出现的人畜共患黄病毒，也是英国动物宿主中首个被确认的人畜共患蚊媒病毒。自2020年首次检测到USUV以来，在随后几年中反复检测到该病毒，这表明该病毒正在英国越冬，现在应被视为在英格兰东南部呈地方性流行。对鸟类宿主和蚊媒的监测不足以阐明USUV在温带冬季持续存在的机制。通过在2021年至2024年（含）期间在索引地点加强有针对性的媒介监测，我们在寻找宿主的成年雌性致倦库蚊以及从野外捕获的幼虫饲养的成虫中检测到了USUV RNA。据我们所知，这是首次描述USUV在节肢动物媒介中的垂直传播，因此应将其视为USUV在温带地区持续存在的一种可行机制。
