title: West Nile virus in Guadeloupe: introduction, spread, and decrease in circulation level: 2002-2005.
abstract: In July 2002, a surveillance system was implemented on Guadeloupe to detect for the potential introduction and monitor the spread of West Nile virus (WNV). From 2002 to 2004, equines and chickens were serologically assayed for antibodies to WNV by IgG and IgM enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), epitope-blocking ELISA, and plaque reduction neutralization tests. After introduction, probably through migratory birds at the end of 2001, many seroconversions occurred between July and October 2002 resulting in a high seroprevalence (19.3%) in equines in 2003. WNV circulation levels decreased dramatically in 2003 and 2004 as assessed by the absence of seroconversion in equine and the very low prevalence in chickens. This decrease coincided with a 7-month drought that presumably caused a decrease in vector populations. In 2005, a sentinel survey was implemented in equines and chickens placed in areas at high risk and the very low rate of seroconversion (1 equine out of 106, no chicken) demonstrated that WNV circulation is now occurring at a very low level.
authors.affiliation: Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développment, Département Elevage et Médicine Vétérinaire Tropicale, 97170 Petit Bourg, Guadeloupe. thierry.lefrancois@cirad.fr
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lefrançois
authors.forename: Bradley J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Blitvich
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pradel
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Molia
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vachiéry
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Martinez
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D002645:Chickens; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003465:Culex / Q000821:virology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D018397:Equidae; D005260:Female; D019430:Guadeloupe / Q000453:epidemiology; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006736:Horses; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D009500:Neutralization Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D011634:Public Health; D012621:Seasons; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D014902:West Nile virus / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral