Comparison of Extraction Methods for the Detection of Avian Influenza Virus RNA in Cattle Milk.

Since early 2024, a multistate outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been affecting dairy cattle in the USA. The influenza viral RNA concentrations in milk make it an ideal matrix for surveillance purposes. However, viral RNA detection in multi-component fluids such as milk can be complex, and optimization of influenza detection methods is thus required.

High pathogenic avian influenza A(H5) viruses of clade 2.3.4.4b in Europe-Why trends of virus evolution are more difficult to predict.

Since 2016, A(H5Nx) high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus of clade 2.3.4.

Usutu Virus Africa 3 Lineage, Luxembourg, 2020.

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.

Nearly Complete Genome Sequences of Two Bluetongue Viruses Isolated during the 2020 Outbreak in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

Bluetongue is one of the major diseases of ruminants listed by the World Organisation for Animal Health. Bluetongue virus serotype 8 (BTV-8) has been considered enzootic in France since 2018. Here, we report the nearly complete genome sequences of two BTV-8 isolates from the 2020 outbreak in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

Molecular and virological characterization of the first poultry outbreaks of Genotype VII.2 velogenic avian orthoavulavirus type 1 (NDV) in North-West Europe, BeNeLux, 2018.

After two decades free of Newcastle disease, Belgium encountered a velogenic avian orthoavulavirus type 1 epizootic in 2018. In Belgium, 20 cases were diagnosed, of which 15 occurred in hobby flocks, 2 in professional poultry flocks and 3 in poultry retailers. The disease also disseminated from Belgium towards the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg by trade.

Screening red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) for possible viral causes of encephalitis.

Background: Next to various known infectious and non-infectious causes, the aetiology of non-suppurative encephalitis in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) often remains unclear. Known causes in foxes imply rabies, canine distemper, toxoplasmosis, Aujeszky's disease, as well as parvovirus, adenovirus, circovirus and flavivirus infections. In this study, particular attention was paid on bornaviruses, since red foxes are predators of bicoloured white-toothed shrews, a reservoir of Borna disease virus 1 (BoDV-1).

Shedding of Infectious Borna Disease Virus-1 in Living Bicolored White-Toothed Shrews.

Background: Many RNA viruses arise from animal reservoirs, namely bats, rodents and insectivores but mechanisms of virus maintenance and transmission still need to be addressed. The bicolored white-toothed shrew (Crocidura leucodon) has recently been identified as reservoir of the neurotropic Borna disease virus 1 (BoDV-1).

Principal Findings: Six out of eleven wild living bicoloured white-toothed shrews were trapped and revealed to be naturally infected with BoDV-1.