Usutu Virus Africa 3 Lineage, Luxembourg, 2020

Abstract

We detected Usutu virus in a dead Eurasian blackbird (Turdus merula) in Luxembourg in September 2020. The strain clustered within the Africa 3.1 lineage identified in Western Europe since 2016. Our results suggest maintenance of the virus in Europe despite little reporting during 2019-2020, rather than a new introduction.

Keywords: Luxembourg; Usutu virus; blackbird; phylogeny; viruses; zoonoses.

Figure

Geographic distribution of Usutu virus Africa 3 lineage in Europe. Countries are identified by 3-letter International Organization for Standardization codes (https://www.iso.org); gray indicates those where Usutu sequences were reported (partial E gene, partial NS5 gene, or complete polyprotein coding viral sequences available on GenBank). Large white circles indicate locations where Africa 3 lineage has been identified; sublineages are indicated within circles. Only partial NS5 sequence was available for Africa 3 strain from Czech Republic, preventing sub-lineage attribution. Small white circles delineate European microstates (AND, MCO, LIE, SMR and Vatican city); no Usutu virus circulation was reported. Map created with https://www.mapchart.net.