title: West Nile virus infection in farmed American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) in Florida.
abstract: In September and October 2002, an epizootic of neurologic disease occurred at an alligator farm in Florida (USA). Three affected American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) were euthanatized and necropsied, and results confirmed infection with West Nile virus (WNV). The most significant microscopic lesions were a moderate heterophilic to lymphoplasmacytic meningoencephalomyelitis, necrotizing hepatitis and splenitis, pancreatic necrosis, myocardial degeneration with necrosis, mild interstitial pneumonia, heterophilic necrotizing stomatitis, and glossitis. Immunohistochemistry identified WNV antigen, with the most intense staining in liver, pancreas, spleen, and brain. Virus isolation and RNA detection by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction confirmed WNV infection in plasma and tissue samples. Of the tissues, liver had the highest viral loads (maximum 10(8.9) plaque-forming units [PFU]/0.5 cm3), whereas brain and spinal cord had the lowest viral loads (maximum 10(6.6) PFU/0.5 cm3 each). Virus titers in plasma ranged from 10(3.6) to 10(6.5) PFU/ml, exceeding the threshold needed to infect Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes (10(5) PFU/ml). Thus, alligators may serve as a vertebrate amplifying host for WNV.
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, USA. jacobsone@mail.vetmed.ufl.edu
authors.forename: Elliott R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Jacobson
authors.forename: Pamela E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Ginn
authors.forename: J Mitchell
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Troutman
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Farina
authors.forename: Lillian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Stark
authors.forename: Kaci
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Klenk
authors.forename: Kristen L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Burkhalter
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Komar
mesh_terms: D000489:Alligators and Crocodiles / Q000821:virology*; D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic / Q000821:virology; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000097:blood; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000662:veterinary; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D019562:Viral Load / Q000662:veterinary; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D014902:West Nile virus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral