Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
5909203 | Infection, Genetics and Evolution | 2015 | 6 Pages |
Abstract
Usutu virus (USUV) and West Nile virus (WNV) are emerging pathogens that can cause neurological disease in humans. From March 2012 to June 2013, a sero-survey on wild birds was carried out to investigate the circulation of both viruses in Northwest (NW) Italy. Samples belonging to 47 different bird species have been collected using a volunteer based network and a wildlife rehabilitation center. Four of 297 serum samples had neutralizing antibodies against USUV (P = 1.34%, IC 95% 0.36-3.4), while 10 of 233 samples tested positive for WNV (P = 4.29%, IC 95% 2.07-7.75). Neutralizing antibodies for WNV were significantly more prevalent (p < 0.001) in trans-Saharan migrants (P = 21%, IC 95% 9.55-37.3) than in resident and short-distance birds, but no migratory habit-related differences were found for USUV. Antibodies in resident bird species suggest that both viruses are circulating in NW Italy.
Keywords
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Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Authors
Isis Victoriano Llopis, Luca Rossi, Annapia Di Gennaro, Andrea Mosca, Liana Teodori, Laura Tomassone, Elena Grego, Federica Monaco, Alessio Lorusso, Giovanni Savini,