Comparison of chickens and pheasants as sentinels for eastern equine encephalitis and St. Louis encephalitis viruses in Florida.
Pheasants and chickens were compared as sentinels for monitoring the transmission of arboviruses of public health significance in Florida during 1991-93. Results suggest that pheasants are better sentinels for eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus. They detected virus transmission 3-6 weeks earlier in epizootic years, 2-4 times more frequently during the season, and twice as many birds within a flock seroconverted during a given week. Pheasants detected virus transmission at 2 sites during 2 interepizootic years when chickens failed. Although pheasants detected St. Louis encephalitis (SLE) virus activity somewhat later than did chickens, they had greater seroconversion rates than did chickens. Although both bird species can be used to monitor EEE and SLE viruses, pheasants are more sensitive than chickens as sentinels for EEE virus and as sensitive as chickens as sentinels for SLE virus.
Morris
C D
CD
Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, University of Florida, Vero Beach 32962, USA.
Baker
W G
WG
Stark
L
L
Burgess
J
J
Lewis
A L
AL
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology*; D001717:Birds / Q000821:virology*; D002645:Chickens / Q000821:virology; D004663:Encephalitis Virus, Eastern Equine / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004665:Encephalitis Virus, St. Louis / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004674:Encephalitis, St. Louis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary; D004683:Encephalomyelitis, Equine / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D007303:Insect Vectors; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance; D012698:Serologic Tests
D000914:Antibodies, Viral