title: West Nile virus epizootiology in the southeastern United States, 2001.
abstract: We investigated mosquito and bird involvement in West Nile virus (WNV) transmission in July 2001 in Jefferson County, FL, and Lowndes County, GA. We detected 16 WNV-infected pools from Culex quinquefasciatus, Cx. salinarius, Cx. nigripalpus, and Culiseta melanura. In Florida, 11% of 353 bird sera neutralized WNV. Antibody prevalence was greatest in northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis, 75%), northern mockingbird (Mimus polyglottus, 50%), common ground-dove (Columbina passerina, 25%), common grackle (Quiscalus quiscula, 15%), domestic chicken (Gallus gallus, 16%), and house sparrow (Passer domesticus, 11%). Antibody-positive birds were detected in nine of 11 locations, among which prevalence in chickens ranged from 0% to 100%. Seropositive chickens were detected in Georgia as well. The primary transmission cycle of WNV in the southeastern United States apparently involves Culex mosquitoes and passerine birds. Chickens are frequently infected and may serve as effective sentinels in this region.
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado 80522, USA. mjg9@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Marvin S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Godsey
authors.forename: Mark S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Blackmore
authors.forename: Nicholas A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Panella
authors.forename: Kristen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Burkhalter
authors.forename: Kristy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gottfried
authors.forename: Lawrence A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Halsey
authors.forename: Roxanne
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rutledge
authors.forename: Stanley A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Langevin
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gates
authors.forename: Karen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Lamonte
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Lanciotti
authors.forename: Carina G M
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Blackmore
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Loyless
authors.forename: Lillian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Stark
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Oliveri
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Conti
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Komar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D001717:Birds; D002645:Chickens; D009033:Culicidae / Q000821:virology*; D004199:Disease Vectors; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000821:virology*; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D015144:Southeastern United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D014902:West Nile virus
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral