The Camargue area of southern France experienced the re-emergence of West Nile Virus (WNV) in the late summer of 2000 and 2004. Immediately preceding the 2004 outbreak, samples were collected from 432 birds of 32 different species captured in mist nets and from 201 Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) nestlings sampled in their nests between 1 April and 12 June 2004. West Nile virus neutralizing titers of ≥40 were detected in 4.8% (95% confidence limit, 2.9–7.5%) of the adult birds and in 1.6% (0.3–4.6%) of the egret nestlings. Migratory passerines had a higher prevalence of WNV neutralizing antibodies (7.0%) than did resident and short-distance migratory passerines (0.8%), suggesting exposure to WNV or a related flavivirus during overwintering in Africa.
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1 July 2008
Prevalence of West Nile Virus Neutralizing Antibodies in Wild Birds from the Camargue Area, Southern France
Elsa Jourdain,
Hervé G. Zeller,
Philippe Sabatier,
Séverine Murri,
Yves Kayser,
Timothy Greenland,
Murielle Lafaye,
Michel Gauthier-Clerc
Journal of Wildlife Diseases
Vol. 44 • No. 3
July 2008
Vol. 44 • No. 3
July 2008
antibodies
Camargue
serosurvey
West Nile virus
wild birds