title: Experimental infection of common garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis) with West Nile virus.
abstract: The role of various reptilian species in the infectious cycle of several arboviruses is documented, but their role in that of West Nile virus (WNV) is uncertain. Common garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis) were infected subcutaneously with 10(5) plaque forming units (PFU) WNV-Isr 98, five of nine snakes became viremic, and five exhibited persistent low levels of neutralizing antibodies. Four of the parentally infected snakes died and high titers of virus were found in multiple organ samples. In contrast, orally infected garter snakes did not become viremic, but viral RNA was detected in cloacal swabs. Since oral infection of predator birds by WNV is known, their ingestion of infected snakes may also result in their becoming infected.
authors.affiliation: Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Quality Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel.
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Steinman
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Banet-Noach
authors.forename: Lubov
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Simanov
authors.forename: Nurit
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Grinfeld
authors.forename: Zachi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Aizenberg
authors.forename: Ohad
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Levi
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lahav
authors.forename: Mertyn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Malkinson
authors.forename: Shimon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Perk
authors.forename: Nahum Y
authors.initials: NY
authors.lastname: Shpigel
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D017812:Colubridae / Q000821:virology*; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000662:veterinary; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral / Q000662:veterinary; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous / Q000662:veterinary; D009500:Neutralization Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D009928:Organ Specificity; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D014766:Viremia / Q000662:veterinary; D014779:Virus Replication; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000473:pathology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D014902:West Nile virus / Q000472:pathogenicity*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral