The family Cimicidae comprises ectoparasites feeding exclusively on the blood of endothermic animals. Cimicid swallow bugs specifically target swallow birds (Hirundinidae) and their nestlings in infested nests. Bugs of the genus Oeciacus are commonly found in mud nests of swallows and martins, while they rarely visit the homes of humans. Although-unlike other cimicid species-the house martin bug Oeciacus hirundinis has never been reported as a vector of zoonotic pathogens, its possible role in arbovirus circulation in continental Europe is unclear. Samples of O. hirundinis were therefore collected from abandoned house martin (Delichon urbicum) nests in southern Moravia (Czech Republic) during the 2021/2022 winter season and checked for alpha-, flavi- and bunyaviruses by RT-PCR. Of a total of 96 pools consisting of three adult bugs each, one pool tested positive for Usutu virus (USUV)-RNA. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the virus strain was closely related to Italian and some Central European strains and corresponded to USUV lineage 5. The detection of USUV in O. hirundinis during wintertime in the absence of swallows raises the question for a possible role of this avian ectoparasite in virus overwintering in Europe.

• Keywords
• Hirundo rustica, Oeciacus hirundinis, Cimicidae, House martin, Overwintering, Usutu virus,
• MeSH
• Cimicidae * virology   MeSH
• Flavivirus * isolation & purification   genetics   classification   MeSH
• Phylogeny * MeSH
• Bird Diseases parasitology   virology   MeSH
• RNA, Viral genetics   MeSH
• Seasons * MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czech Republic MeSH
• Names of Substances
• RNA, Viral MeSH

The aim of this review is to follow the history of studies on endemiv arboviruses and the diseases they cause which were detected in the Czech lands (Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia (i.e., the Czech Republic)). The viruses involve tick-borne encephalitis, West Nile and Usutu flaviviruses; the Sindbis alphavirus; Ťahyňa, Batai, Lednice and Sedlec bunyaviruses; the Uukuniemi phlebovirus; and the Tribeč orbivirus. Arboviruses temporarily imported from abroad to the Czech Republic have been omitted. This brief historical review includes a bibliography of all relevant papers.

• Keywords
• arthropods, birds, mammals, mosquitoes, ticks,
• MeSH
• Arbovirus Infections history   MeSH
• Arboviruses physiology   MeSH
• History, 20th Century MeSH
• History, 21st Century MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• History, 20th Century MeSH
• History, 21st Century MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Historical Article MeSH
• Review MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czech Republic epidemiology   MeSH