title: Rapid antigen-capture assay to detect West Nile virus in dead corvids.
abstract: The utility of the VecTest antigen-capture assay to detect West Nile virus (WNV) in field-collected dead corvids was evaluated in Manitoba and Ontario, Canada, in 2001 and 2002. Swabs were taken from the oropharynx, cloaca, or both of 109 American Crows, 31 Blue Jays, 6 Common Ravens, and 4 Black-billed Magpies from Manitoba, and 255 American Crows and 28 Blue Jays from Ontario. The sensitivity and specificity of the antigen-capture assay were greatest for samples from American Crows; oropharyngeal swabs were more sensitive than cloacal swabs, and interlaboratory variation in the results was minimal. The sensitivity and specificity of the VecTest using oropharyngeal swabs from crows were 83.9% and 93.6%, respectively, for Manitoba samples and 83.3% and 95.8%, respectively, for Ontario birds. The VecTest antigen-capture assay on oropharyngeal secretions from crows is a reliable and rapid diagnostic test that appears suitable for incorporation into a WNV surveillance program.
authors.affiliation: National Microbiology Laboratory, Health Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. robbin_lindsay@hc-sc.gc.ca
authors.forename: Robbin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lindsay
authors.forename: Ian k
authors.initials: Ik
authors.lastname: Barker
authors.forename: Gopi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nayar
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Drebot
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Calvin
authors.forename: Cherie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scammell
authors.forename: Cheril
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sachvie
authors.forename: Tracy Scammell-La Fleur
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Fleur
authors.forename: Antonia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dibernardo
authors.forename: Maya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Andonova
authors.forename: Harvey
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Artsob
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds / Q000821:virology*; D008350:Manitoba; D009864:Ontario; D009960:Oropharynx / Q000821:virology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D013045:Species Specificity; D014902:West Nile virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*