title: Antibodies to West Nile virus in wild and farmed crocodiles in southeastern Mexico.
abstract: Surveillance for evidence of West Nile virus (WNV) infection in Morelet's crocodiles (Crocodylus moreletii) was conducted in Campeche State, Mexico, in 2007. Sera from 62 crocodiles (32 free-ranging and 30 captive) were assayed for antibodies to WNV by epitope-blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Antibodies to WNV were detected in 13 (41%) wild and nine (30%) captive crocodiles, and the overall antibody prevalence was 35%. Although evidence of WNV infection in captive crocodiles has been reported in Mexico, we provide the first evidence of WNV exposure in wild crocodiles in Mexico.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Arbovirologia, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales Dr. Hideyo Noguchi, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, 97000, México.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Machain-Williams
authors.forename: Sergio E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Padilla-Paz
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cetina-Trejo
authors.forename: José Alfredo
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Juarez-Ordaz
authors.forename: María Alba
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Loroño-Pino
authors.forename: Armando
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ulloa
authors.forename: Chong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Julián
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Garcia-Rejon
authors.forename: Bradley J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Blitvich
mesh_terms: D000489:Alligators and Crocodiles / Q000821:virology*; D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000821:virology; D000836:Animals, Zoo / Q000821:virology; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D014902:West Nile virus / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral
keywords: Crocodile; Mexico; West Nile virus; flavivirus; surveillance