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Abstract

In August 2020, as part of a long-term disease surveillance programme, Usutu virus was detected in five Eurasian blackbirds () and one house sparrow () from Greater London, England. This was initially detected by reverse transcription-PCR and was confirmed by virus isolation and by immunohistochemical detection of flavivirus in tissues. Phylogenetic analysis identified Usutu virus African 3.2 lineage, which is prevalent in the Netherlands and Belgium, suggesting a potential incursion from mainland Europe.

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/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2020.25.41.2001732
2020-10-15
2024-11-21
http://instance.metastore.ingenta.com/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2020.25.41.2001732
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