title: Molecular detection and phylogenetic analysis of West Nile virus lineage 2 in sedentary wild birds (Eurasian magpie), Greece, 2010.
abstract: A West Nile virus (WNV) lineage 2 strain was molecularly identified and characterised in a Eurasian magpie hunted in Greece in 2010, during a WNV outbreak in humans. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the highest sequence similarity (>99%) with other WNV lineage 2 strains derived from birds of prey in Austria and Hungary (2004–2009). This first molecular detection of WNV in sedentary wild birds in Greece, which are possible reservoirs of the virus, is a public health concern.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Valiakos
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Touloudi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Iacovakis
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Athanasiou
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Birtsas
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Spyrou
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Billinis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000821:virology*; D001717:Birds / Q000821:virology; D004199:Disease Vectors; D006115:Greece; D010802:Phylogeny; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000821:virology*; D014902:West Nile virus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification