title: Susceptibility of Carrion Crows to Experimental Infection with Lineage 1 and 2 West Nile Viruses.
abstract: West Nile virus (WNV) outbreaks in North America have been characterized by substantial die-offs of American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos). In contrast, a low incidence of bird deaths has been observed during WNV epidemic activity in Europe. To examine the susceptibility of the western European counterpart of American crows, we inoculated carrion crows (Corvus corone) with WNV strains isolated in Greece (Gr-10), Italy (FIN and Ita09), and Hungary (578/10) and with the highly virulent North American genotype strain (NY99). We also inoculated American crows with a selection of these strains to examine the strains' virulence in a highly susceptible bird species. Infection with all strains, except WNV FIN, resulted in high rates of death and high-level viremia in both bird species and virus dissemination to several organs. These results suggest that carrion crows are highly susceptible to WNV and may potentially be useful as part of dead bird surveillance for early warning of WNV activity in Europe.
authors.forename: Stephanie M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Aaron C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Brault
authors.forename: Geert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: van Amerongen
authors.forename: Angela M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Bosco-Lauth
authors.forename: Hannah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Romo
authors.forename: Varsha D
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Sewbalaksing
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Bowen
authors.forename: Albert D M E
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Osterhaus
authors.forename: Penelope
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Koraka
authors.forename: Byron E E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Martina
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000401:mortality* / Q000821:virology; D046368:Crows / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D004198:Disease Susceptibility / Q000401:mortality*; D014774:Virulence / Q000276:immunology; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000401:mortality* / Q000821:virology; D014902:West Nile virus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*
keywords: Corvus corone; Europe; WNV; West Nile virus; carrion crow; corvid; experimental infection; sentinel; surveillance; susceptibility; virulence; viruses