title: PREVALENCE AND DISTRIBUTION OF WELLFLEET BAY VIRUS EXPOSURE IN THE COMMON EIDER (SOMATERIA MOLLISSIMA).
abstract: Between 1998 and 2014, recurrent mortality events were reported in the Dresser's subspecies of the Common Eider ( Somateria mollissima dresseri) on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, US near Wellfleet Harbor. The early die-offs were attributed to parasitism and emaciation, but beginning in 2006 a suite of distinct lesions was observed concomitant with the isolation of a previously unknown RNA virus. This novel pathogen was identified as an orthomyxovirus in the genus Quaranjavirus and was named Wellfleet Bay virus (WFBV). To assess evidence of exposure to this virus in Common Eiders, we conducted a longitudinal study of the prevalence of WFBV antibodies at multiple locations from 2004-14; we collected 2,258 serum samples from six locations and analyzed each using a microneutralization assay. Results corroborate the emergence of WFBV in 2006 based on the first detection of antibodies in that year. Significantly higher prevalence was detected in Common Eiders sampled in Massachusetts compared to those in Maine, Nova Scotia, and Québec. For birds breeding and wintering in Massachusetss, viral exposure varied by age, sex, and season of sampling, and prevalence by season and sex were highly interrelated with greater numbers of antibody-positive males in the autumn and females in the spring. No evidence of viral exposure was detected in the Northern subspecies ( Somateria mollissima borealis). Among the locations sampled, Massachusetts appears to be the epicenter of Common Eider exposure to WFBV. Further research is warranted to understand the factors controlling the epidemiology of WFBV in Massachussetts, including those that may be limiting geographic expansion of this virus.
authors.affiliation: 1   Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, 589 D. W. Brooks Drive, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA.|2   Wildlife Health Office, Natural Resource Program Center, US Fish and Wildlife Service, 1201 Oakridge Drive, Suite 320, Fort Collins, Colorado 80525, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Ballard
authors.affiliation: 3   Wildlife Services, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, US Department of Agriculture, 9 Main Street Suite #1 - M, Sutton, Massachusetts 01590, USA.
authors.forename: Randall
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mickley
authors.affiliation: 4   Wildlife Health Office, Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge, US Fish and Wildlife Service, 16450 NW 31st Place, Chiefland, Florida 32626, USA.
authors.forename: Samantha E J
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Gibbs
authors.affiliation: 5   Migratory Birds Division, Region 5, US Fish and Wildlife Service, 300 Westgate Center Drive, Hadley, Massachusetts 01035-9589, USA.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dwyer
authors.affiliation: 6   University of Saskatchewan, Department of Veterinary Pathology, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B4, Canada.|7   Environment Canada, 115 Perimeter Road, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 0X4, Canada.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Soos
authors.affiliation: 6   University of Saskatchewan, Department of Veterinary Pathology, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B4, Canada.
authors.forename: N Jane
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Harms
authors.affiliation: 8   Environment Canada, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H3, Canada.
authors.forename: H Grant
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Gilchrist
authors.affiliation: 9   US Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center, 6006 Schroeder Road, Madison, Wisconsin 53711, USA.
authors.forename: Jeffrey S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.affiliation: 9   US Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center, 6006 Schroeder Road, Madison, Wisconsin 53711, USA.
authors.forename: J Christian
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Franson
authors.affiliation: 10   Wildlife Division, Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources, 136 Exhibition Street, Kentville, Nova Scotia B4N 4E5, Canada.
authors.forename: G Randy
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Milton
authors.affiliation: 10   Wildlife Division, Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources, 136 Exhibition Street, Kentville, Nova Scotia B4N 4E5, Canada.
authors.forename: Glen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Parsons
authors.affiliation: 11   Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, 650 State Street, Bangor, Maine 04401-5654, USA.
authors.forename: Brad
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.affiliation: 12   Département des sciences biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, C.P. 8888, Succursale Centre-ville, Montréal, Québec H3C 3P8, Canada.
authors.forename: Jean-Francois
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Giroux
authors.affiliation: 13   Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, C.P. 5000, St-Hyacinthe, Québec J2S 7C6, Canada.
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lair
authors.affiliation: 1   Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, 589 D. W. Brooks Drive, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Mead
authors.affiliation: 1   Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, 589 D. W. Brooks Drive, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA.
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Fischer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D061006:Bays; D004372:Ducks / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008281:Maine; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011792:Quebec; D012328:RNA Viruses / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity
keywords: Common Eider; Wellfleet Bay virus; serology; seroprevalence