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While fatal infections caused by the Usutu virus appeared to concern only passerines (especially the blackbird) and Strigiformes (especially the great gray owl), we report herein that the virus also naturally causes a fatal disease in an anseriforme species, the common scoter (Melanitta nigra).

During late summer 2016, in a northwest European region extending over Belgium, the Netherlands and the eastern border of the German state of North Rhine Westphalia, an outbreak of wild bird deaths occurred similar to those reported on the continent since 1996. Dead birds were necropsied and examined by complementary methods. Pathologic and immunohistological investigations strongly suggested an infection by Usutu virus. Subsequently, genomic segments of the said virus were detected, the virus was isolated and its complete genome was sequenced. The strain, designated Usutu-LIEGE, is a close phylogenetic relative of those isolated in Germany which form a distinct group within the USUV phylogeny, the so-called Europe_3 lineage. Should this outbreak recapitulate the characteristics of those in southwest Germany in 2011 and in/around Vienna (Austria) in 2001, it is expected that specific avian populations in the affected area will face a significant reduction in size for a few years.

Wildlife surveillance allowed the monitoring of the zoonotic mosquito-borne Usutu virus (USUV) in birds and bats (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) in southern Belgium in 2017 and 2018. USUV-RNA was detected in 69 birds (of 253) from 15 species, among which 7 species had not previously been reported to be susceptible to the infection. Similarly, 2 bats (of 10) were detected positive by reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). USUV-associated lesions were mainly found in Eurasian Blackbirds (Turdus merula), in which USUV antigens were demonstrated by immunohistochemistry in the brain, heart, liver, kidney, intestine, and lung. Partial nonstructural protein 5 gene-based phylogenetic analysis showed several identical or closely related strains from 2016, 2017, and 2018 clustering together within Europe 3 or Africa 3 lineages. Further, one USUV strain detected in a common chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) manifested a close genetic relationship with the European 1 strains circulating in Hungary and Austria. Our data provide evidence of USUV endemization in southern Belgium in local birds and bats, extension of the host range of the virus and ongoing virus introduction from abroad, likely by migratory birds. Our results highlight the need for vigilance in the forthcoming years toward new virus-associated outbreaks in birds and possible human infections in Belgium.

While fatal infections caused by the Usutu virus appeared to concern only passerines (especially the blackbird) and Strigiformes (especially the great gray owl), we report herein that the virus also naturally causes a fatal disease in an anseriforme species, the common scoter (

The family Parvoviridae contains diverse viruses that are capable of infecting a wide range of hosts. In this study, metagenomic sequencing of Ixodes ricinus ticks harvested in 2016 on red deer (Cervus elaphus) and European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) in Belgium detected a new 6296-bp parvoviral genome. Phylogenetic and sequence analyses showed the new virus belongs to a new species within the Copiparvovirus genus. PCR screening of 4 pools of 10 serum samples from both deer species identified the new copiparvovirus DNA only in roe deer sera. Together, these results are the first evidence of a copiparvovirus in a deer species. Besides its potential pathogenicity to roe deers, the detection of this new virus in ticks raises questions about the possible transmission of parvoviruses by ticks. This report further increases the current knowledge on the evolution and diversity of copiparvoviruses.

West Nile Virus, Usutu virus, Bagaza virus, Israel turkey encephalitis virus and Tembusu virus currently constitute the five flaviviruses transmitted by mosquito bites with a marked pathogenicity for birds. They have been identified as the causative agents of severe neurological symptoms, drop in egg production and/or mortalities among avian hosts. They have also recently shown an expansion of their geographic distribution and/or a rise in cases of human infection. This paper is the first up-to-date review of the pathology of these flaviviruses in birds, with a special emphasis on the difference in susceptibility among avian species, in order to understand the specificity of the host spectrum of each of these viruses. Furthermore, given the lack of a clear prophylactic approach against these viruses in birds, a meta-analysis of vaccination trials conducted to date on these animals is given to constitute a solid platform from which designing future studies.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to assess the potential factors that may generate complexity in managing operations in home care (HC) organizations. Hence, a framework which might assist decision making regarding complexity‐driven issues in HC organizations is developed.Design/methodology/approachBased on a systems thinking view, a framework was developed identifying complexity factors in HC organizations. The paper is based on field research to explore the practical challenges of managing operations in HC structures. The authors additionally give a state of the art in many scientific domains; definition of complexity and its implications; complexity in health care; description of home care operations and their management. The literature review enlightens the lack of consensus on HC complexity and thus provides a broad view and a critical analysis of the underlying concepts.FindingsProposal of a HC operations complexity model (and validation due to a practical application).Practical implicationsThe framework developed by the authors permits one to identify rapidly the existing complexity factors which may create potential damages regarding value creation and cost improvement in HC. Two kinds of HC complexity are identified: HC organization complexity and HC individual patients' therapeutical projects complexity. Complexity factors are grouped into five categories: factors related to size; factors related to variety; interdependence factors; factors related to uncertainties; and factors related to context. By identifying the factors, decision support systems and response plans may be more adapted to the potential existing short comings of operations.Originality/valueBased on authors' extensive knowledge of HC practices, as well as an international systematic review of literature, this paper contributes to a better characterization of factors inducing complexity in the HC context. To the best of the authors' knowledge, operations management literature lacks a general framework enabling a better identification and understanding of what makes HC operations specific. The paper presents an innovative way to analyze HC complexity using a systems thinking‐based approach. In this sense, its contribution is very complementary to traditional operations management models.