scholarly journals Macroecology of birds potentially susceptible to West Nile virus

2018 ◽  
Vol 285 (1893) ◽  
pp. 20182178 ◽  
Author(s):  
María J. Tolsá ◽  
Gabriel E. García-Peña ◽  
Oscar Rico-Chávez ◽  
Benjamin Roche ◽  
Gerardo Suzán
Keyword(s):  
West Nile Virus ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Zoonotic Diseases ◽  
West Nile ◽  
Bird Populations ◽  
Time Space ◽  
Wildlife Pathogens

Zoonotic diseases transmitted by wildlife affect biological conservation, public and animal health, and the economy. Current research efforts are aimed at finding wildlife pathogens at a given location. However, a meta-analytical approach may reveal emerging macroecological patterns in the host–pathogen relationship at different temporal and spatial scales. West Nile virus (WNV) is a pathogen with worldwide detrimental impacts on bird populations. To understand macroecological patterns driving WNV infection, we aimed to recognize unknown competent reservoirs using three disease metrics—serological prevalence (SP), molecular prevalence (MP) and mortality (M)—and test if these metrics are correlated with the evolutionary history, geographical origin of bird species, viral strain, time–space and methodology. We performed a quantitative review of field studies on birds sampled for WNV. We obtained 4945 observations of 949 species from 39 countries. Our analysis supported the idea that MP and M are good predictors of reservoir competence, and allowed us to identify potential competent reservoirs. Furthermore, results indicated that the variability of these metrics was attributable to phylogeny, time–space and sample size. A macroecological approach is needed to recognize susceptible species and competent reservoirs, and to identify other factors driving zoonotic diseases originating from wildlife.

scholarly journals WEST NILE VIRUS SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM IN SERBIA

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 29-45
Author(s):  
Tamaš Petrović ◽  
Šekler Milenko ◽  
Dušan Petrić ◽  
Sava Lazić ◽  
Diana Lupulović ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
West Nile Virus ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Monitoring Program ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Surveillance Program ◽  
West Nile ◽  
Veterinary Service ◽  
The Republic

Serological and virological examination of the presence of human and animal infection caused by West Nile Virus (WNV) as well as the presence of the virus in vectors, which has been conducted during the past few years, confi rmed an active virus circulation in the territory of the Republic of Serbia. Based on the obtained results and anticipated intense circulation of WNV, which poses substantial risks for both public and animal health in Serbia, and having in mind its crucial role in the protection of public health, Veterinary Directorate of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection infront the Veterinary Service launched and funded the national WNV monitoring program starting from April 2014. The Program encompassed the entire territory of the Republic of Serbia and was conducted by scientific and specialized veterinary institutes and fi eld veterinary service in close collaboration with qualifi ed entomologists and ornithologists. The principal objective of the monitoring – surveillance program is early detection of WNV in monitored regions, timely reporting of the virus presence and activation of human health service institutions and local authorities aimed at establishing the control measures - eradication of mosquitoes, informing the local community and taking all relevant preventive measures for human health protection. Th e surveillance program of the WNV occurrence and spread is based on direct and indirect surveillance of WNV in natural environment. Indirect surveillance encompasses serological testing of seronegative sentinel horses and poultry for the presence of WNV infection, and it is performing continuously and periodically during the most intensive mosquito activity (May – September). The number of sentinel animals that should be tested was defi ned at the district level, according to the rate of anticipated risk of WNV infection. Direct surveillance was performed through periodical and continuous testing of pooled mosquitoes samples collected at two-week intervals during peak mosquito season (May – September) and samples of wild birds (tissues of dead birds and throat swabs of captured live susceptible bird species). The number of samples was stipulated according to the anticipated risk rate in particular regions.

Additive negative effects of Philornis nest parasitism on small and declining Neotropical bird populations

2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (03) ◽  
pp. 339-360 ◽  
Author(s):  
MARIANA BULGARELLA ◽  
MARTÍN A. QUIROGA ◽  
GEORGE E. HEIMPEL
Keyword(s):  
Bird Species ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Habitat Destruction ◽  
Biological Information ◽  
Mortality Factor ◽  
Healthy Population ◽  
Small Populations ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Nest Parasitism ◽  
Bird Populations

SummaryThe declining-population paradigm holds that small populations are particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic influences such as habitat destruction, pollution and species introductions. While the effects of particular stressors, such as parasitism, may be unimportant in a large, healthy population, they can be serious and even devastating in situations characterised by a restricted geographic range, or by fragmented or reduced population sizes. We apply this idea to nest parasitism of threatened Neotropical bird species that exist in small populations, focusing on dipteran nest parasites in the genusPhilornis. We review the literature onPhilornisparasitism exerting negative pressure on bird populations that have become small and isolated due to human actions and present a new case ofPhilornisparasitism of a threatened hummingbird species. Our aim is to raise awareness about the exacerbating effect that nest parasites can have on small and declining bird populations; especially when biological information is scarce. The five reviewed cases involve two species of Darwin’s Finches in the Galápagos Islands attacked by the invasiveP. downsi, two species of hawks on islands in the Caribbean attacked by the nativeP. piciandP. obscura, and the Yellow CardinalGubernatrix cristatain southern South America attacked by an unknownPhilornisspecies. We also present new documentation of parasitism of a threatened hummingbird species in mainland Ecuador by an unidentifiedPhilornisspecies. We recommend more field studies to determine the presence of nest parasites in bird populations worldwide to improve understanding how nest parasites affect bird fitness and population viability and to allow time to act in advance if needed. Parasitism byPhilornismay represent a severe mortality factor in most already threatened bird species, putting them at greater risk of extinction. Therefore, parasitism management should be included in all threatened species recovery plans.

scholarly journals Epidemiological surveillance of West Nile virus in the world and Brazil

2020 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. e164335
Author(s):  
Erica Azevedo Costa ◽  
José Joffre Martins Bayeux ◽  
Aila Solimar Gonçalves Silva ◽  
Guilherme Alves De Queiroz ◽  
Beatriz Senra Álvares da Silva Santos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
West Nile Virus ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Public Health Intervention ◽  
The United States ◽  
World Health ◽  
West Nile ◽  
Serological Screening ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

West Nile virus (WNV) is a neurovirulent mosquito-borne Flavivirus that is maintained in nature by a zoonotic transmissioncycle between avian hosts and ornithophilic mosquito vectors, mostly from the Culex genus. Until the 1990s, WNV wasconsidered to be an old-world arbovirus, but in 1999, WNV emerged in the United States (US) and spread rapidly, becoming amajor threat to public health. WNV adapted to the transmission cycle involving American mosquitoes and birds and reachedCentral and South America in subsequent years. In 2003, the National West Nile Fever Surveillance System was created in Brazilbased on serological screening of animals and sentinel vectors, as recommended by the Pan American Health Organization(PAHO) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Since 2008, serological evidence of WNV infection in Brazilian horseshas been reported, and the circulation of WNV has been monitored through the regular serological screening of sentinel horsesand reporting of encephalomyelitis cases. Horses are highly susceptible to WNV infection, and outbreaks of neurologicaldisease among horses often precede human cases. In this regard, equine surveillance has been essential in providing earlywarning to public and animal health authorities in several countries, including Brazil. This demonstrates the need for animaland public health intervention programs to allocate resources to make veterinarians aware of the role they can play in thehuman surveillance processes by monitoring horses. This review discusses the importance of equine surveillance and the gapthat veterinarians can fill on the front line in human surveillance, in Brazil and worldwide, in the context of “One Health”

Bird Species Potentially Involved in Introduction, Amplification, And Spread of West Nile Virus in A Mediterranean Wetland, The Camargue (Southern France)

2007 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Jourdain ◽  
Y. Toussaint ◽  
A. Leblond ◽  
D.J. Bicout ◽  
P. Sabatier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
West Nile Virus ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
West Nile ◽  
Southern France

Epidemiological perspectives on West Nile virus surveillance in wild birds in Great Britain

2012 ◽  
Vol 141 (6) ◽  
pp. 1134-1142 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. A. BRUGMAN ◽  
D. L. HORTON ◽  
L. P. PHIPPS ◽  
N. JOHNSON ◽  
A. J. C. COOK ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Great Britain ◽  
West Nile Virus ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Wild Birds ◽  
West Nile ◽  
Peak Period ◽  
Dead Bird ◽  
Virus Surveillance ◽  
Vector Activity ◽  
Geographical Expansion

SUMMARYWest Nile virus (WNV) is a zoonotic arthropod-borne pathogen with continued geographical expansion in Europe. We present and evaluate data on the temporal, spatial and bird species focus of the WNV surveillance programme in dead wild birds in Great Britain (2002–2009). During this period all bird samples tested negative for WNV. Eighty-two per cent of the 2072 submissions occurred during the peak period of vector activity with 53% tested during April–July before human and equine infection would be expected. Samples were received from every county, but there was significant geographical clustering (nearest neighbour index=0·23, P<0·001). Over 240 species were represented, with surveillance more likely to detect WNV in resident bird species (92% of submissions) than migrants (8%). Evidence indicates that widespread avian mortality is not generally a reported feature of WNV in Europe and hence additional activities other than dead bird surveillance may maximize the ability to detect WNV circulation before the onset of human and equine infections.

scholarly journals West Nile Virus Infection in Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus): Experimental Infection and Protective Effects of Vaccination

2017 ◽  
Vol 54 (6) ◽  
pp. 901-911 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole M. Nemeth ◽  
Angela M. Bosco-Lauth ◽  
Lisa M. Williams ◽  
Richard A. Bowen ◽  
Justin D. Brown
Keyword(s):  
West Nile Virus ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
West Nile Virus Infection ◽  
Population Pressure ◽  
Paper Strip ◽  
Protective Effects ◽  
Ruffed Grouse ◽  
Bonasa Umbellus ◽  
West Nile ◽  
Peak Viremia

Ruffed grouse ( Bonasa umbellus) population numbers in Pennsylvania dramatically declined during the early 2000s and have subsequently remained depressed throughout much of the state. While this decline has been temporally associated with the presence of West Nile virus (WNV), lack of information on the WNV susceptibility of this popular game bird species has limited the ability to interpret the potential impacts of WNV. To address this knowledge gap, virologic, immunologic, pathologic, and clinical responses as well as protective effects of vaccination following experimental WNV inoculation in ruffed grouse were assessed. Four of 10 (40%) naive, WNV-inoculated grouse succumbed to infection within 8 days and had moderate mean peak viremia titers (107.0 plaque-forming units [PFU]/ml serum); severe necrotizing myocarditis with widespread, corresponding immunohistochemical labeling; and minimal encephalitis. Grouse that survived to the prescribed end point of 14 days postinoculation (6/10; 60%) had slightly lower mean peak viremia titers (106.8 PFU/ml serum), moderate myocardial lesions, and more widespread brain lesions with rare corresponding immunohistochemical labeling. Vaccinated, WNV-inoculated birds ( n = 5) had lower mean peak viremia titers (103.6 PFU/ml serum) and minimal lesions, and sham-inoculated, in-contact control birds ( n = 3) had no evidence of infection. All surviving, inoculated birds seroconverted, and WNV-specific antibodies were detectable in serum and Nobuto filter paper strip–eluted blood samples. These data suggest that WNV could serve as an additional population pressure on ruffed grouse in regions where transmission levels are high and WNV competent, ornithophilic vectors exist.

Force of Infection and Variation in Outbreak Size in a Multi-Species Host-Pathogen System

2020 ◽  
pp. 69-82
Author(s):  
John M. Drake ◽  
Krisztian Magori ◽  
Kevin Knoblich ◽  
Sarah E. Bowden ◽  
Waheed I. Bajwa
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
New York City ◽  
West Nile Virus ◽  
York City ◽  
Sampling Error ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
West Nile ◽  
Force Of Infection ◽  
Host Pathogen

The size of annual outbreaks in seasonally forced host-pathogen systems is poorly understood. We studied contributing factors to the six-fold observed variation in the number of human cases of West Nile virus in New York City in the years 2000–2008. Sampling error and intrinsic noise (demographic stochasticity) explain roughly half of the observed variation. To investigate the remaining sources of variation, we estimated the monthly force of infection from data on the distribution and abundance of mosquitoes, virus prevalence, vector competence, and mammal biting rate at two spatial scales. At both scales, the West Nile virus force of infection was remarkably consistent from year to year. We propose that fine scale spatial heterogeneity is the key to understanding the epidemiology of West Nile virus in New York City.

scholarly journals Persistent impacts of West Nile virus on North American bird populations

2015 ◽  
Vol 112 (46) ◽  
pp. 14290-14294 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Luke George ◽  
Ryan J. Harrigan ◽  
Joseph A. LaManna ◽  
David F. DeSante ◽  
James F. Saracco ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
West Nile Virus ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
West Nile ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Bird Populations ◽  
Continental Scale ◽  
North American Bird ◽  
Avian Populations ◽  
The Impact

Since its introduction to North America in 1999, West Nile virus (WNV) has had devastating impacts on native host populations, but to date these impacts have been difficult to measure. Using a continental-scale dataset comprised of a quarter-million birds captured over nearly two decades and a recently developed model of WNV risk, we estimated the impact of this emergent disease on the survival of avian populations. We find that populations were negatively affected by WNV in 23 of the 49 species studied (47%). We distinguished two groups of species: those for which WNV negatively impacted survival only during initial spread of the disease (n = 11), and those that show no signs of recovery since disease introduction (n = 12). Results provide a novel example of the taxonomic breadth and persistent impacts of this wildlife disease on a continental scale. Phylogenetic analyses further identify groups (New World sparrows, finches, and vireos) disproportionally affected by temporary or persistent WNV effects, suggesting an evolutionary dimension of disease risk. Identifying the factors affecting the persistence of a disease across host species is critical to mitigating its effects, particularly in a world marked by rapid anthropogenic change.

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