West Nile Virus Outbreak in North American Owls, Ontario, 2002

Details

• Alternative Title:
  Emerg Infect Dis
• Personal Author:
  Gancz, Ady Y. ; Barker, Ian K. ; Lindsay, Robbin ; Dibernardo, Antonia ; McKeever, Katherine ; Hunter, Bruce
• Description:
  From July to September 2002, an outbreak of West Nile virus (WNV) caused a high number of deaths in captive owls at the Owl Foundation, Vineland, Ontario, Canada. Peak death rates occurred in mid-August, and the epidemiologic curve resembled that of corvids in the surrounding Niagara region. The outbreak occurred in the midst of a louse fly (Icosta americana, family Hippoboscidae) infestation. Of the flies tested, 16 (88.9 %) of 18 contained WNV RNA. Species with northern native breeding range and birds >1 year of age were at significantly higher risk for WNV-related deaths. Species with northern native breeding range and of medium-to-large body size were at significantly higher risk for exposure to WNV. Taxonomic relations (at the subfamily level) did not significantly affect exposure to WNV or WNV-related deaths. Northern native breeding range and medium-to-large body size were associated with earlier death within the outbreak period. Of the survivors, 69 (75.8 %) of 91 were seropositive for WNV.
• Subjects:
  • Animals
  • Bird Diseases
  • Diptera
  • Disease Outbreaks
  • Disease Vectors
  • Environment
  • Risk Factors
  • Strigiformes
  • West Nile Fever
• Source:
  Emerg Infect Dis. 10(12):2135-2142.
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Ontario, Canada
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  10
• Issue:
  12
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/14616/cdc_14616_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 306.20 KB]
• Collection(s):
  Emerging Infectious Diseases
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:3b4f20c1430cb4a9852ff878169c79a4c8ccfcb1136326518779269d87806f11