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Updated: Jun 19, 2025
Validating Whole Genome Nanopore Sequencing, using Usutu Virus as an Example
Published on: March 11, 2020
Molecular detection of Usutu virus in pools of Culex pipiens mosquitoes in Greece
Anastasia Panagopoulou1, Nikolaos Tegos2, Stavroula Beleri2
1Unit of Medical Entomology, Laboratory for the Surveillance of Infectious Diseases (LSID), Division of Infectious, Parasitic Diseases and Zoonoses, Department of Public Health Policy, School of Public Health, University of West Attica, 11521, Athens, Greece; MSc Course in Public Health (Specialty: Infectious Diseases-Public Health Laboratories), Department of Public Health Policy, School of Public Health, University of West Attica, 115 21 Athens, Greece.
Abstract:
Usutu virus (USUV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus originating from Africa, that belongs to the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) complex. In nature, USUV involves Culex spp. mosquitoes acting as vectors and birds as amplifying hosts. The virus has recently spread in Europe and is considered an emerging human pathogen. This is the first research study performed in Greece revealing the presence and circulation of USUV in Culex spp. mosquito populations. Out of the 1,500 mosquito pools tested with real-time RT-PCR, four (Roesch et al., 2019) were positive for USUV. All four pools were collected from the region of Central Macedonia, Northern Greece.
