Sentinel birds in wild-bird resting sites as potential indicators for West Nile virus infections in Germany.
West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-transmitted flavivirus with wild birds as its natural hosts. Ravens, falcons and jays are highly susceptible for WNV and develop deadly encephalitis, while other bird species undergo only subclinical infections. Migratory birds are efficient vectors for geographic spreading of WNV. Until now, WNV infections have not been diagnosed in Germany, but infections in humans and horses have occurred recently in Austria, Hungary and Italy. To investigate potential WNV introduction by infected wild birds, we have monitored the serological status of ducks in three national sentinel stations. No WNV-positive reactions were found, whereas sera from coots from northern Iran were positive.
Ziegler
Ute
U
Institute for Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Südufer 10, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.
Seidowski
Diana
D
Globig
Anja
A
Fereidouni
Sasan R
SR
Ulrich
Rainer G
RG
Groschup
Martin H
MH
D025041:Animal Migration; D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000821:virology*; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D001717:Birds / Q000821:virology*; D004372:Ducks / Q000821:virology*; D005858:Germany; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance / Q000662:veterinary*; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D014902:West Nile virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification
D000914:Antibodies, Viral