Serologic evidence of West Nile virus exposure in North American mesopredators.
Sera from 936 mammalian mesopredators (Virginia opossums, gray foxes, striped skunks, hooded skunks, raccoons, a bobcat, and a red fox) were collected during 2003 and 2004 in California, Arizona, Texas, Louisiana, Ohio, and Wyoming and screened for flavivirus-specific antibodies by an epitope-blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (blocking ELISA). Serum samples positive for antibodies against flaviviruses were screened for West Nile virus (WNV)-specific antibodies by blocking ELISA and selectively confirmed with plaque-reduction neutralization tests. High prevalence rates were observed in raccoons (45.6%) and striped skunks (62.9%). The high WNV antibody prevalence noted in mesopredators, their peridomestic tendencies, and their overall pervasiveness make these species potentially useful sentinels for monitoring flaviviruses in defined areas.
Bentler
Kevin T
KT
National Wildlife Research Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture/Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service/Wildlife Services, Fort Collins, Colorado 80521, USA. kevin.t.bentler@aphis.usda.gov
Hall
Jeffrey S
JS
Root
J Jeffrey
JJ
Klenk
Kaci
K
Schmit
Brandon
B
Blackwell
Bradley F
BF
Ramey
Paul C
PC
Clark
Larry
L
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D008322:Mammals / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D010948:Viral Plaque Assay; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary; D014902:West Nile virus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral