Usutu virus activity in Austria, 2001-2002.

Usutu virus (USUV), a member of the mosquito-borne clade within the Flaviviridae family, was responsible for avian mortality in Austria in 2001. In 2002, the virus continued to kill birds, predominantly blackbirds. High numbers of avian deaths were recorded within the city of Vienna and in surrounding districts of the federal state of Lower Austria, while single die-offs were noticed in the federal states of Styria and Burgenland.

Transmission studies of a European Sindbis virus in the floodwater mosquito Aedes vexans (Diptera: Culicidae).

Sindbis viruses are arthropod-borne viruses, which are maintained in nature in a Culex mosquito-bird associated transmission cycle, but Aedes species have been suspected as playing a role in infecting humans. In this study, we addressed the question whether or not Germany's most abundant floodwater mosquito species Aedes vexans (Diptera, Culicidae) can serve as an efficient vector for Sindbis viruses. Firstly, the overall susceptibility of Ae.