Present and future arboviral threats.

To evaluate transmission dynamics, we exposed 25 bird species to West Nile virus (WNV) by infectious mosquito bite. We monitored viremia titers, clinical outcome, WNV shedding (cloacal and oral), seroconversion, virus persistence in organs, and susceptibility to oral and contact transmission. Passeriform and charadriiform birds were more reservoir competent (a derivation of viremia data) than other species tested. The five most competent species were passerines: Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata), Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula), House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus), American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos), and House Sparrow (Passer domesticus). Death occurred in eight species. Cloacal shedding of WNV was observed in 17 of 24 species, and oral shedding in 12 of 14 species. We observed contact transmission among four species and oral in five species. Persistent WNV infections were found in tissues of 16 surviving birds. Our observations shed light on transmission ecology of WNV and will benefit surveillance and control programs.

/pdf/experimental-infection-of-north-american-birds-with-the-new-4hwos1e8m1.pdf

Experimental Infection of North American Birds with the New York 1999 Strain of West Nile Virus

https://zenodo.org/record/1259935/files/article.pdf

The Global Emergence/Resurgence of Arboviral Diseases As Public Health Problems

The avidin-biotin complex in bioanalytical applications

The potential for transport and dissemination of certain pathogenic microorganisms by migratory birds is of concern. Migratory birds might be involved in dispersal of microorganisms as their biological carriers, mechanical carriers, or as carriers of infected hematophagous ecto- parasites (e.g., ixodid ticks). Many species of microorganisms pathogenic to homeothermic ver- tebrates including humans have been associated with free-living migratory birds. Migratory birds of diverse species can play significant roles in the ecology and circulation of some arboviruses (e.g., eastern and western equine encephalomyelitis and Sindbis alphaviruses, West Nile and St. Louis encephalitis flaviviruses), influenza A virus, Newcastle disease virus, duck plague herpes- virus, Chlamydophila psittaci, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Campylobacter jejuni, Salmonella enterica, Pasteurella multocida, Mycobacterium avium, Candida spp., and avian hematozoans. The efficiency of dispersal of pathogenic microorganisms depends on a wide variety of biotic and abiotic factors affecting the survival of the agent in, or disap- pearance from, a habitat or ecosystem in a new geographic area.

https://bioone.org/journals/journal-of-wildlife-diseases/volume-40/issue-4/0090-3558-40.4.639/AN-ANNOTATED-CHECKLIST-OF-PATHOGENIC-MICROORGANISMS-ASSOCIATED-WITH-MIGRATORY-BIRDS/10.7589/0090-3558-40.4.639.pdf

An annotated checklist of pathogenic microorganisms associated with migratory birds

West Nile virus (WNV) was isolated in a flock of 1,200 migrating white storks that landed in Eilat, a town in southern Israel, on August 26, 1998. Strong, hot westerly winds had forced the storks to fly under considerable physical stress before reaching the agricultural land surrounding the town. Most of the flock were fledglings, <1 year old, which had hatched in Europe. Thirteen dead or dying storks were collected 2 days after arrival and submitted to the laboratory for examination. Four WNV isolates were obtained from their brains. Out of 11 storks tested six days after arrival, three had WNV-neutralizing antibodies. Comparative analysis of full-length genomic sequences of a stork isolate and a 1999 flamingo isolate from the USA showed 28 nucleotide (nt) (0.25%) and 10 amino acid (0.3%) changes. Sequence analysis of the envelope gene of the stork isolate showed almost complete identity with isolates from Israeli domestic geese in 1998 and 1999 and from a nonmigrating, white-eyed gull in 1999. Since these storks were migrating southwards for the first time and had not flown over Israel, we assume that they had become infected with WNV at some point along their route of migration in Europe.

/pdf/introduction-of-west-nile-virus-in-the-middle-east-by-xiw7zb79fi.pdf

Introduction of West Nile Virus in the Middle East by Migrating White Storks

During a recent epizootic, losses due to West Nile virus (WNV) infection in young goose flocks were estimated to be far greater than expected if mosquito-borne transmission was the principal route of infection. Contact transmission was investigated experimentally as an alternative explanation. A group of 10, 3-week-old geese were inoculated subcutaneously and placed in one insect-proof room with 20 geese of the same age. A group of 10 geese were housed in an adjacent insect-proof room to serve as an environmental control. All geese in the inoculated group produced antibodies, eight became viraemic and five died between 7 and 10 days after infection. Virus was shed from the cloaca and oral cavity by three geese. Two of the in-contact birds died on days 10 and 17 after infection, and WNV was recovered from another three birds. None of the environmental control group became infected. This result strongly suggests that horizontal transmission of WNV can occur in commercial flocks and may be aggravated if cannibalism and feather-picking of sick geese occur.

Direct (non-vector) transmission of West Nile virus in geese.

Marek's disease (MD) is a highly contagious lymphoproliferative disease of chickens caused by a herpesvirus, while reticuloendotheliosis (REV) virus is an avian C-type retrovirus that causes bursal and nonbursal lymphomas which often closely resemble MDV lymphomas. To provide a rapid and sensitive means of diagnosing and differentiating between these two neoplastic conditions, we have applied the PCR. The primers chosen to detect MDV sequences flank the 132 bp tandem repeat of the BamHI-H fragment, whose PCR product is specific for serotype 1 MDVs. The primers selected for REV are based on proviral spleen necrosis virus-long terminal repeat (SNV-LTR) sequences, and can identify both defective and non-defective REVs. The PCR for field isolates of both viruses was standardized with DNA extracted from chick embryo fibroblasts (CEF) infected with various Israeli isolates of MDV and REV. All chickens were examined for REV antibodies by ELISA, REV isolation was performed in CEF and the tumours were examined histopathologically. In some instances, MDV- and REV-PCRs were performed on whole blood DNA and tumour DNA from the same bird. Normal and tumour-bearing birds from a total of 16 chicken and turkey flocks were studied by PCR. These included three laying flocks with MD, two pullet flocks with neurolymphomatosis, four laying flocks that were the progeny of a REV antibody positive flock, four other REV antibody positive flocks, one turkey flock and two chicken flocks with an immunodeficiency syndrome. Some flocks were bled two or three times at 1- to 3-month intervals. We also analysed 30 normal grandparent light breeding birds. Compared to virus isolation, PCR was more sensitive in detecting MDV and REV sequences. It appears, therefore, that PCR is an efficacious and sensitive method for differential diagnosis of tumour-bearing and immunodeficient birds.

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/03079459508419050

Use of the polymerase chain reaction for the diagnosis of natural infection of chickens and turkeys with Marek's disease virus and reticuloendotheliosis virus.

West Nile virus (WNV) caused disease outbreaks in Israel in the 1950s and the late 1970s. In 1998 an outbreak of WNV in goose farms and evidence of infection in dead migratory birds were reported. Consequently, human diagnostic services for WNV were resumed, including virus isolation, serology, and RT-PCR. Risk factors for infection were assessed by a serological survey in 1999, which revealed a seroprevalence of (a) 86% in people who had close contact with sick geese, (b) 28% in people in areas along bird migration routes, and (c) 27% in the general population. Following two fatal cases in Tel Aviv in September 1999 and one encephalitis case in the southern Eilot region, a regional serological survey was initiated there. The survey revealed two more WNV-associated acute encephalitis cases, an IgG seroprevalence of 51%, and an IgM seroprevalence of 22%. In the summer of 2000, acute cases of WN disease were identified in the central and northern parts of Israel, involving 439 people. The outbreak started in mid-August, peaked in September, and declined in October, with 29 fatal cases, primarily in the elderly. During the outbreak, diagnosis was based on IgM detection. Four virus isolates were subsequently obtained from preseroconverted frozen sera. Sequence and phylogenetic analysis of 1662 bases covering the PreM, M, and part of the E genes revealed two lineages. One lineage was closely related to a 1999 Israeli bird (gull) isolate and to a 1999 New York bird (flamingo) isolate, and the other lineage was closely related to a 1997 Romanian mosquito isolate and to a 1999 Russian human brain isolate.

West Nile Fever in Israel 1999-2000

Polymerase chain reaction for differentiation between pathogenic and non-pathogenic serotype 1 Marek's disease viruses (MDV) and vaccine viruses of MDV-serotypes 2 and 3.

M. Malkinson

Papers

Introduction of West Nile Virus in the Middle East by Migrating White Storks

Direct (non-vector) transmission of West Nile virus in geese.

Use of the polymerase chain reaction for the diagnosis of natural infection of chickens and turkeys with Marek's disease virus and reticuloendotheliosis virus.

West Nile Fever in Israel 1999-2000

Polymerase chain reaction for differentiation between pathogenic and non-pathogenic serotype 1 Marek's disease viruses (MDV) and vaccine viruses of MDV-serotypes 2 and 3.