title: Serologic evidence of West Nile virus infections in wild birds captured in Germany.
abstract: To assess the risk of acquiring a West Nile virus (WNV) infection in Germany, we investigated samples from migrating and from resident birds. Because of their stay in or migration through WNV-endemic regions, these birds are at risk to become infected with WNV. Blood samples from 3,399 birds, representing 87 bird species, were collected in Germany in 2000 and in 2002-2005. Overall, 53 birds belonging to 5 species had WNV-neutralizing antibodies. Fifty-nine birds belonging to 9 species were reactive by WNV immunofluorescence assay, and 8 birds had neutralizing antibodies against Usutu virus. Because of maternal antibody transfer via egg yolk, WNV-antibody titers in white stork nestlings were generally lower than those in adults. Despite a relatively high percentage of stork nestlings with antibodies, no viral genomes were detectable by polymerase chain reaction. In Germany, the prevalence of antibodies to WNV in migrating birds wintering in Africa or southern Europe is comparatively low.
authors: Zentrum für Biologische Sicherheit 1, Robert Koch-Institut, Nordufer 20, 13353 Berlin, Germany. linkes@rki.de
authors: Sonja
authors: S
authors: Linke
authors: Matthias
authors: M
authors: Niedrig
authors: Andreas
authors: A
authors: Kaiser
authors: Heinz
authors: H
authors: Ellerbrok
authors: Kerstin
authors: K
authors: Müller
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Müller
authors: Franz Josef
authors: FJ
authors: Conraths
authors: Ralf-Udo
authors: RU
authors: Mühle
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Schmidt
authors: Ulrich
authors: U
authors: Köppen
authors: Franz
authors: F
authors: Bairlein
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Berthold
authors: Georg
authors: G
authors: Pauli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D001717:Birds; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D014902:West Nile virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral