Münger Emmanuelle, Atama Nnomzie C, van Irsel Jurrian, Blom Rody, Krol Louie, van Mastrigt Tjomme, van den Berg Tijs J, Braks Marieta, de Vries Ankje, van der Linden Anne, Chestakova Irina, Boter Marjan, Chandler Felicity D, Kohl Robert, Nieuwenhuijse David F, Uiterwijk Mathilde, Fouchier Ron A M, Sprong Hein, Gröne Andrea, Koenraadt Constantianus J M, Schrama Maarten, Reusken Chantal B E M, Stroo Arjan, van den Brand Judith M A, van der Jeugd Henk P, Oude Munnink Bas B, Sikkema Reina S, Koopmans Marion P G
Viroscience, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Vogeltrekstation - Dutch Centre for Avian Migration and Demography, NIOO-KNAW, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
Nat Commun. 2025 Aug 23;16(1):7883. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-63122-w.
Mosquito-borne arboviruses, including Usutu virus (USUV) and West Nile virus (WNV), are emerging threats in Europe, with changes in climate, land use shifts, and increasing global connectivity influencing their dynamics. Understanding how these viruses emerge and establish in new regions is critical for mitigating risks and improving public and wildlife health preparedness. Here, we present a seven-year study (2016-2022, inclusive) documenting the emergence and spread of USUV and WNV in the Netherlands. We established a nationwide sampling framework integrating live birds sampling by volunteer ringers, dead birds referrals by citizen scientists and zoos, and mosquito trapping. Samples were analyzed using molecular, genomic, and serological methods. USUV was first detected in the Netherlands in 2016, caused major outbreaks in birds until 2018 and resurged in 2022. The dominant, enzootic lineage, Africa 3, co-circulated with sporadic introductions of lineage Europe 3. The first localized WNV lineage 2 outbreak occurred in live birds and mosquitoes in 2020, followed by a detection in a bird in 2022 and serological evidence of continued circulation, suggesting WNV is in an early stage of establishment. Our findings were crucial in detecting a human WNV outbreak, underscoring the value of integrated wildlife studies in detecting emerging threats to public health.
包括乌苏图病毒（USUV）和西尼罗河病毒（WNV）在内的蚊媒虫媒病毒在欧洲正构成新的威胁，气候的变化、土地利用的转变以及全球连通性的增加都在影响着它们的动态。了解这些病毒如何在新地区出现并立足，对于降低风险以及提高公众和野生动物健康防范能力至关重要。在此，我们展示了一项为期七年（2016年至2022年，含2016年和2022年）的研究，记录了USUV和WNV在荷兰的出现和传播情况。我们建立了一个全国性的采样框架，整合了由志愿者环志员进行的活禽采样、公民科学家和动物园提交的死禽样本以及蚊虫诱捕。使用分子、基因组和血清学方法对样本进行分析。USUV于201年在荷兰首次被检测到，在2018年前导致鸟类大规模疫情，并于2022年再次出现。占主导地位的地方性谱系非洲3与欧洲3谱系的零星引入共同传播。2020年，首次在活禽和蚊虫中发生了局部性的WNV 2谱系疫情，随后在2022年在一只鸟类中检测到，并有血清学证据表明其持续传播，这表明WNV正处于立足的早期阶段。我们的研究结果对于发现人类WNV疫情至关重要，强调了综合野生动物研究在发现对公众健康的新威胁方面的价值。
