title: West Nile virus in the British Virgin Islands.
abstract: West Nile virus (WNV) first emerged in the US in 1999 and has since spread across the Americas. Here, we report the continued expansion of WNV to the British Virgin Islands following its emergence in a flock of free-roaming flamingos. Histologic review of a single chick revealed lesions consistent with WNV infection, subsequently confirmed with PCR, immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. Full genome analysis revealed 99% sequence homology to strains circulating in the US over the past decade. This study highlights the need for rapid necropsy of wild bird carcasses to fully understand the impact of WNV on wild populations.
authors: Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168th Street, New York, NY, USA, sja2127@columbia.edu.
authors: S J
authors: SJ
authors: Anthony
authors: M M
authors: MM
authors: Garner
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Palminteri
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Navarrete-Macias
authors: M D
authors: MD
authors: Sanchez-Leon
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Briese
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Daszak
authors: W I
authors: WI
authors: Lipkin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000821:virology; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology*; D001717:Birds / Q000821:virology; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000821:virology; D064966:British Virgin Islands; D003465:Culex / Q000821:virology*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000821:virology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D014902:West Nile virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*