Longitudinal studies of West Nile virus infection in avians, Yucatán State, México.

Abstract

Following the introduction of West Nile virus (WNV) into North America in 1999, surveillance for evidence of infection with this virus in migratory and resident birds was established in Yucatán State, México in March 2000. Overall, 8611 birds representing 182 species and 14 orders were captured and assayed for antibodies to WNV. Of these, 5066 (59%) birds were residents and 3545 (41%) birds were migrants. Twenty-one (0.24%) birds exhibited evidence of flavivirus infection. Of these, 8 birds had antibodies to WNV by epitope-blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Five (0.06%) birds (gray catbird, brown-crested flycatcher, rose-breasted grosbeak, blue bunting and indigo bunting) were confirmed to have WNV infections by plaque reduction neutralization test. The WNV-infected birds were sampled in December 2002 and January 2003. The brown-crested flycatcher and blue bunting presumably were resident birds; the other WNV seropositive birds were migrants. These data provide evidence of WNV transmission among birds in the Yucatán Peninsula.

• Authors: José A Farfán-Ale, Bradley J Blitvich, María A Loroño-Pino, Nicole L Marlenee, Elsy P Rosado-Paredes, Julián E García-Rejón, Luis F Flores-Flores, Luis Chulim-Perera, Mildred López-Uribe, Gerardo Pérez-Mendoza, Ingrid Sánchez-Herrera, Waldemar Santamaría, Jose Moo-Huchim, Duane J Gubler, Bruce C Cropp, Charles H Calisher, Barry J Beaty
• Journal: Vector borne and zoonotic diseases (Larchmont, N.Y.) (Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis) Vol. 4 Issue 1 Pg. 3-14 ( 2004) ISSN: 1530-3667 [Print] United States
• PMID: 15018768 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Viral

Topics

• Animal Migration
• Animals
• Antibodies, Viral (blood)
• Bird Diseases (epidemiology, transmission, virology)
• Birds
• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (methods, veterinary)
• Longitudinal Studies
• Mexico (epidemiology)
• Neutralization Tests (methods, veterinary)
• Seroepidemiologic Studies
• West Nile Fever (epidemiology, transmission, veterinary, virology)
• West Nile virus (immunology, isolation & purification)