Surveillance for West Nile virus in wild birds from northern Europe.
A total of 1935 migratory birds from 104 different species were captured in southeastern Sweden in 2005-2006 and tested for antibodies against West Nile virus (WNV). Overall, 46 birds (2.4%; binomial confidence limits, 1.8-3.2) were positive by blocking-ELISA, but only 2 (0.10%; binomial confidence limits, 0.0-0.4) had antibodies detectable by both blocking-ELISA and WNV neutralization test. ELISA-positive birds included long- and short-distance migrants likely exposed to WNV while wintering in or migrating through areas enzootic for WNV. Exposure to a cross-reactive Flavivirus was suspected for short-distance migrants of the Turdidae family, but no cross-neutralization with tick-borne encephalitis and Usutu viruses was observed.
Jourdain
Elsa
E
Zoonotic Ecology and Epidemiology, Department of Natural Sciences, Kalmar University, Kalmar, Sweden. elsa.jourdain@clermont.inra.fr
Olsen
Björn
B
Lundkvist
Ake
A
Hubálek
Zdenek
Z
Sikutová
Silvie
S
Waldenström
Jonas
J
Karlsson
Malin
M
Wahlström
Maria
M
Jozan
Martine
M
Falk
Kerstin I
KI
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D001717:Birds; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005416:Flavivirus / Q000276:immunology; D009500:Neutralization Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D014902:West Nile virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral