title: [Presence of west Nile virus in northeast Mexico].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the presence of WNV in birds, horses and humans in northeast Mexico.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum samples from 33 birds, 24 horses and 237 humans were screened by ELISA for Anti-WNV antibodies. Human serum samples were also screened for WNV RNA using an RT-PCR assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Positive sera were found in three birds and 15 horses. Forty percent of the human serum samples were positive for IgG antibodies and 0% for IgM antibodies and viral RNA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study show that WNV is present in northeast Mexico and it is a new emergent infectious agent that represents a challenge for research and prevention programs in Mexico.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Entomología Médica, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, México. ifernand@ccr.dsi.uanl.mx
authors.forename: Ildefonso
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fernández-Salas
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Lourdes Garza-Rodríguez
authors.forename: Barry J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Beaty
authors.forename: Javier Ramos
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Jiménez
authors.forename: Ana María
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Rivas-Estilla
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds / Q000097:blood*; D006736:Horses / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008800:Mexico; D014902:West Nile virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*