Fig. 7: Experimental design.
From: Experimental Usutu virus infection in Eurasian blackbirds (Turdus merula)
Eight Eurasian blackbirds were sampled on day -7 (blood, serum, pharynx and cloacal swabs and breast feathers); after sampling, the blackbirds were singularly housed in cages in isolators and left to acclimatize for 7 days and activity and health status were monitored. On day 0, blackbirds were either inoculated with USUV Afr3 (n = 3), Eu3 (n = 3), or sterile PBS (n = 2). On 1, 3 and 5 days post inoculation (d.p.i.) blackbirds were sampled (blood, serum, pharynx and cloacal swabs and breast feathers). At the humane endpoint, blackbirds were euthanized, necropsied, and tissue samples were collected for histopathology, tissue titration and RT-qPCR. Created in BioRender, agreement licence number OO28BUTARJ.
