West Nile virus epizootiology in the southeastern United States, 2001.
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.
Godsey
Marvin S
MS
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado 80522, USA. mjg9@cdc.gov
Blackmore
Mark S
MS
Panella
Nicholas A
NA
Burkhalter
Kristen
K
Gottfried
Kristy
K
Halsey
Lawrence A
LA
Rutledge
Roxanne
R
Langevin
Stanley A
SA
Gates
Robert
R
Lamonte
Karen M
KM
Lambert
Amy
A
Lanciotti
Robert S
RS
Blackmore
Carina G M
CG
Loyless
Tom
T
Stark
Lillian
L
Oliveri
Robin
R
Conti
Lisa
L
Komar
Nicholas
N
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
D000914:Antibodies, Viral