Role of peridomestic birds in the transmission of St. Louis encephalitis virus in southern California.
Abstract: In response to the 1984 St. Louis encephalitis (SLE) epidemic in the Los Angeles Basin of southern California (USA), an investigative program was initiated to evaluate the interactive components of the SLE virus transmission cycle. From 1987 through 1996 (10 yr), 52,589 birds were bled and their sera tested for SLE and western equine encephalomyelitis (WEE) virus antibodies by the hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) test. Eighty-three percent of the birds tested were house finches (Carpodacus mexicanus) (48.7%) and house sparrows (Passer domesticus) (34.6%); 1.1% of these birds were positive for SLE antibodies. Prevalence of WEE antibodies was negligible. The analysis of 5,481 sera from rock doves (Columbia livia) yielded 3.6% SLE positives and 0.4% WEE positives. Collection sites were maintained as study sites when identified as positive bird, mosquito, and SLE virus activity localities; others were abandoned. Serial serum samples from 7,749 banded house sparrows and 9,428 banded house finches from these selected sites demonstrated year-round SLE virus transmission. One location exhibited significant numbers of house finches undergoing annual SLE seroconversion and a number of seroconversion-reversion-reconversion sequences suggesting either viral reinfection from mosquitoes or recrudescence by latent virus. A proportion of both bird species also lived for longer than 1 yr, thus, increasing the possibility of virus carry-over from autumn to spring. Assessment of concurrently collected mosquitoes indicated no correlative association between mosquito populations and SLE seroconversion and reconversion. European house sparrows introduced in the 1800's may have provided a supplemental link to the existing SLE virus enzootic cycle involving endemic house finches. Meteorological factors are reviewed as possible important correlates of SLE epidemics. The house finch/house sparrow serosurveillance system is also evaluated for use as an "Early Warning" indicator of SLE virus activity.
Publication Date: 2000-02-22 PubMed ID: 10682741DOI: 10.7589/0090-3558-36.1.13Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Diagnosis
- Disease Diagnosis
- Disease Etiology
- Disease Outbreaks
- Disease Prevalence
- Disease Surveillance
- Disease Transmission
- Encephalitis
- Encephalomyelitis
- Epidemiology
- Horses
- Infectious Disease
- Mosquito-borne Diseases
- Public Health
- Serodiagnosis
- Serological Surveys
- Seroprevalence
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Research
- Veterinary Science
- Virus
Summary
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This scientific research paper investigates the role of residential, or peridomestic, birds in the transmission of St. Louis encephalitis virus in southern California, based on data collected from 1987 to 1996. The study utilized serum samples from various bird species and assessed the correlation between mosquito populations and the presence of the virus.
Research Methodology
- The researchers sampled blood from 52,589 birds to test for St. Louis encephalitis (SLE) and western equine encephalomyelitis (WEE) virus antibodies using the hemagglutination inhibition test.
- Majority of the birds sampled were house finches and house sparrows. Analysis was also conducted on sera from rock doves.
- Tested locations were kept as study sites if positive for bird, mosquito, and SLE virus activity, while others were discarded.
- Serial serum samples were taken from banded house sparrows and house finches from selected sites to observe patterns of SLE virus transmission throughout the year.
Key Findings
- Analysis revealed 1.1% of house finches and house sparrows, and 3.6% of rock doves tested positive for SLE antibodies while incidence of WEE antibodies was very low.
- SLE virus transmission was observed all year round at the selected study sites.
- In some occurrences, significant numbers of house finches underwent annual SLE seroconversion, and even seroconversion-reversion-reconversion cycles, indicating potential viral reinfection from mosquitoes or recrudescence by latent virus.
- Some birds survived longer than a year, therefore increasing the potential for virus carryover from autumn to spring.
Implications and Conclusions
- No significant correlation was found between mosquito populations and SLE seroconversion and reconversion, meaning the pattern of virus does not strictly relate to mosquito population dynamics.
- The European house sparrows introduced in the 1800s may have added another link to the existing SLE virus cycle involving endemic house finches.
- The weather conditions are considered important variables in the occurrence of SLE epidemics and warrant further analysis.
- The serosurveillance system, based on the monitoring of house finch and house sparrow populations, is evaluated for its potential use as an early indicator of SLE virus activity.
Cite This Article
APA
Gruwell JA, Fogarty CL, Bennett SG, Challet GL, Vanderpool KS, Jozan M, Webb JP.
(2000).
Role of peridomestic birds in the transmission of St. Louis encephalitis virus in southern California.
J Wildl Dis, 36(1), 13-34.
https://doi.org/10.7589/0090-3558-36.1.13 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Orange County Vector Control District, Garden Grove, California 92843, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Antibodies, Viral / blood
- Bird Diseases / epidemiology
- Bird Diseases / transmission
- California / epidemiology
- Columbidae
- Culex / virology
- Disease Outbreaks
- Encephalitis Virus, St. Louis / immunology
- Encephalitis Virus, Western Equine / immunology
- Encephalitis, St. Louis / epidemiology
- Encephalitis, St. Louis / transmission
- Encephalomyelitis, Equine / epidemiology
- Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests / veterinary
- Humans
- Insect Vectors / virology
- Longevity
- Population Dynamics
- Seasons
- Seroepidemiologic Studies
- Songbirds
Citations
This article has been cited 9 times.- Wille M, Holmes EC. Wild birds as reservoirs for diverse and abundant gamma- and deltacoronaviruses.. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2020 Sep 1;44(5):631-644.
- Ramos BA, Chiang JO, Martins LC, Chagas LLD, Silva FAE, Ferreira MS, Freitas MNO, Alcantara BN, Silva SPD, Miranda SA, Sepulvreda BA, Corrêa LTG, Negrão AMG, Vasconcelos PFDC, Casseb ADR. Clinical and serological tests for arboviruses in free-living domestic pigeons (Columba livia).. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2017 Aug;112(8):532-536.
- Reisen WK, Padgett K, Fang Y, Woods L, Foss L, Anderson J, Kramer V. Chronic infections of West Nile virus detected in California dead birds.. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2013 Jun;13(6):401-5.
- Kwan JL, Kluh S, Reisen WK. Antecedent avian immunity limits tangential transmission of West Nile virus to humans.. PLoS One 2012;7(3):e34127.
- Molaei G, Cummings RF, Su T, Armstrong PM, Williams GA, Cheng ML, Webb JP, Andreadis TG. Vector-host interactions governing epidemiology of West Nile virus in Southern California.. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2010 Dec;83(6):1269-82.
- O'Brien VA, Meteyer CU, Reisen WK, Ip HS, Brown CR. Prevalence and pathology of West Nile virus in naturally infected house sparrows, western Nebraska, 2008.. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2010 May;82(5):937-44.
- Nemeth NM, Oesterle PT, Bowen RA. Humoral immunity to West Nile virus is long-lasting and protective in the house sparrow (Passer domesticus).. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2009 May;80(5):864-9.
- Nemeth NM, Kratz GE, Bates R, Scherpelz JA, Bowen RA, Komar N. Naturally induced humoral immunity to West Nile virus infection in raptors.. Ecohealth 2008 Sep;5(3):298-304.
- Gibbs SE, Hoffman DM, Stark LM, Marlenee NL, Blitvich BJ, Beaty BJ, Stallknecht DE. Persistence of antibodies to West Nile virus in naturally infected rock pigeons (Columba livia).. Clin Diagn Lab Immunol 2005 May;12(5):665-7.
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