West Nile virus infection in the eastern loggerhead shrike (Lanius ludovicianus migrans): pathology, epidemiology, and immunization.
An outbreak of West Nile virus (WNV) infection occurred at a captive breeding facility for the endangered eastern loggerhead shrike (Lanius ludovicianus migrans) in August 2002. Within 10 d, five birds died; two were found dead, and the others died shortly after showing neurologic signs. West Nile virus was detected in all organs examined using immunohistochemistry, and its viral genome was amplified from brain and kidney samples using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. None of the remaining birds in the colony had antibodies against WNV, which suggests a mortality rate of 100%. After vaccination with a commercial equine WNV vaccine 31 of 37 (84%) of the birds had WNV neutralizing antibodies.
Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada. mfb@zoo.dk
Mads F
MF
Bertelsen
Rolf-Arne
RA
Olberg
Graham J
GJ
Crawshaw
Antonia
A
Dibernardo
L Robbin
LR
Lindsay
Michael
M
Drebot
Ian K
IK
Barker
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary; D005784:Gene Amplification; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000662:veterinary; D009928:Organ Specificity; D046109:Passeriformes; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D014611:Vaccination / Q000662:veterinary; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D014902:West Nile virus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification
D000914:Antibodies, Viral