Persistent West Nile virus infection in the house sparrow (Passer domesticus).
Long-term persistence of West Nile virus (WNV) infection within vertebrate reservoir hosts is a potential mechanism for overwintering of this (and other) arbovirus(es) at temperate latitudes. The house sparrow (Passer domesticus), an established amplifying host for WNV and other arboviruses, was used as a model to confirm chronicity of WNV infection in passerine birds and to evaluate the feasibility of two overwintering mechanisms: blood-borne infection of arthropod vectors (recrudescence) and oral infection of vertebrate reservoir hosts (ingestion of infected tissues through predation). WNV-inoculated sparrows were monitored for persistent infection for up to 2 years. Infectious virus persisted in tissues through 43 days, but not in sera beyond 6 days. Viral RNA persisted in tissues through 65 days. Chronicity of WNV infection in some tissues, but not blood, supports the predation mechanism of WNV overwintering, but not recrudescence. RNA persistence impacts interpretation and etiologic determination of avian mortality.
National Wildlife Research Center, 4101 Laporte Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA. Nicole.M.Nemeth@aphis.usda.gov
Nicole
N
Nemeth
Ginger
G
Young
Christina
C
Ndaluka
Helle
H
Bielefeldt-Ohmann
Nicholas
N
Komar
Richard
R
Bowen
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology*; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000821:virology; D012008:Recurrence; D046370:Sparrows / Q000821:virology*; D014766:Viremia / Q000662:veterinary; D017201:Virus Shedding; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D014902:West Nile virus / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000502:physiology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral