title: Lack of detection of West Nile virus in an islander population of chelonians during a West Nile virus outbreak.
abstract: In 2011, several outbreaks of West Nile disease occurred in Sardinia (Italy). The region hosts several chelonian species. Because of the increasing concern on the potential role that ectotherms may play in the ecology of West Nile virus (WNV), in October 2011 blood samples were collected from 41 endemic Sardinian chelonians and tested for the presence of active WNV infection or neutralizing antibodies by real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and serumneutralisation, respectively. Neither WNV neutralising antibodies (0%; 95% CI: 0‑8.4%) nor WNV RNA (0%; 95% CI: 0‑6.8%) were found in the tested samples. According to the results of this screening survey, it is unlikely that chelonians are involved in the epidemiology of the 2011 WNV outbreaks in Sardinia.
authors.affiliation: Clinica per Animali Esotici, Centro Veterinario Specialistico, Via Sandro Giovannini 53, Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Di Girolamo
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Selleri
authors.forename: Annapia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Gennaro
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maldera
authors.forename: Giordano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nardini
authors.forename: Benedetto
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Morandi
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Muzzeddu
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Origgi
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Savini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D014426:Turtles / Q000821:virology*; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D014902:West Nile virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*