Serologic evidence of West Nile virus infection in black bears (Ursus americanus) from New Jersey.
Serum samples obtained from 51 free-ranging black bears (Ursus americanus) in northwestern New Jersey in February and March 2002 were analyzed for neutralizing antibodies to West Nile virus (WNV) and St. Louis encephalitis virus. Three (6%) of the black bears tested positive for WNV-neutralizing antibodies. One additional sample was positive for flavivirus-neutralizing antibodies but could not be differentiated for a specific virus type. This is the first report of WNV infection in black bears.
Farajollahi
Ary
A
Department of Entomology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901-1190, USA. farajoll@rci.rutgers.edu
Panella
Nicholas A
NA
Carr
Patrick
P
Crans
Wayne
W
Burguess
Kelcey
K
Komar
Nicholas
N
D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009500:Neutralization Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D009515:New Jersey / Q000453:epidemiology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D001503:Ursidae / Q000097:blood / Q000821:virology; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D014902:West Nile virus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral