Serological evidence of West Nile Virus (WNV) in mammalian species in Turkey.
In this study, the sera collected from a variety of mammalian species (ass-mules, cat, cattle, dog, horse, human and sheep) in 10 representative provinces of Turkey, were surveyed for the presence of neutralizing antibodies to West Nile virus (WNV). Overall, 1 of 40 (2.5%) ass-mules, 4 of 100 (4%) cattle, 43 of 114 (37.7%) dogs, 35 of 259 (13.5%) horses, 18 of 88 (20.4%) humans and 1 of 100 (1%) sheep, tested positive for WNV-neutralizing antibodies. The results indicate that a wide range of mammals are exposed to a West Nile-related virus and this could contribute to the long-term survival of this virus in the absence of overt disease.
Ozkul
A
A
Ankara University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Virology, Diskapi, Ankara, Turkey. ozkul@veterinary.ankara.edu.tr
Yildirim
Y
Y
Pinar
D
D
Akcali
A
A
Yilmaz
V
V
Colak
D
D
D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic / Q000821:virology*; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D002415:Cats / Q000821:virology; D002417:Cattle / Q000821:virology; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000662:veterinary; D004285:Dogs / Q000821:virology; D018397:Equidae / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012756:Sheep / Q000821:virology; D014421:Turkey; D014902:West Nile virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral