West Nile virus quantification in feces of experimentally infected American and fish crows.
To better understand the potential environmental health risk presented by West Nile virus (WNV)-contaminated feces, we quantified the amount of WNV present in the feces of experimentally infected American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) and fish crows (Corvus ossifragus). Peak fecal titers ranged from 10(3.5) to 10(8.8) plaque-forming units (PFU)/g for 10 American crows and from 10(2.3) to 10(6.4) PFU/g for 10 fish crows. The presence of infectious WNV in bird feces indicates a potential for direct transmission of WNV. Thus, handlers of sick or dead birds should take appropriate precautions to avoid exposure to fecal material.
Kipp
Aaron M
AM
Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO 80522, USA.
Lehman
Jennifer A
JA
Bowen
Richard A
RA
Fox
Patricia E
PE
Stephens
Michael R
MR
Klenk
Kaci
K
Komar
Nicholas
N
Bunning
Michel L
ML
D000818:Animals; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology*; D046368:Crows; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology*; D014766:Viremia / Q000662:veterinary / Q000821:virology; D017201:Virus Shedding; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D014902:West Nile virus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*