Antibody Response of Five Bird Species After Vaccination With a Killed West Nile Virus Vaccine

Abstract

West Nile virus has been associated with numerous bird mortalities in the United States since 1999. Five avian species at three zoological parks were selected to assess the antibody response to vaccination for West Nile virus: black-footed penguins (Spheniscus demersus), little blue penguins (Eudyptula minor), American flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber), Chilean flamingos (Phoenicopterus chilensis), and Attwater's prairie chickens (Tympanuchus cupido attwateri). All birds were vaccinated intramuscularly at least twice with a commercially available inactivated whole virus vaccine (Innovator). Significant differences in antibody titer over time were detected for black-footed penguins and both flamingo species.

Emergence and establishment of Usutu virus infection in wild and captive avian species in and around Zurich, Switzerland—Genomic and pathologic comparison to other central European outbreaks

“…The following years a regular treatment against ectoparasites might help to reduce virus transmittance below the minimal virus concentration and minimal exposure might induce protective immunity against virulent infections in a range of bird species. A vaccination is currently unavailable and the idea that another flavivirus vaccine, like the West-Nile-Virus vaccine, induces a cross protection against USUV seems rather unlikely, especially since the established equine WNV vaccine resulted in variable protection in various bird species (Johnson 2005, Okeson et al 2007.…”

Limited efficacy of West Nile virus vaccines in large falcons (Falco spp.)

“…Duvaxyn® was used before in avian species [23,25], including raptors (peregrine falcon, American kestrel and red-tailed hawk). Three immunizations with this vaccine resulted in low antibody titers in 60% of the animals, but again challenge experiments were not conducted [26].…”

Efficacy of Three Vaccines in Protecting Western Scrub-Jays (Aphelocoma californica) from Experimental Infection with West Nile Virus: Implications for Vaccination of Island Scrub-Jays (Aphelocoma insularis)

“…Especially at risk are species with limited distribution confined to areas with high levels of enzootic WNV transmission; for example, the California endemic Yellow-billed Magpie (Pica nuttalli) experienced marked declines upon the arrival of WNV into central California (Crosbie et al 2008, Wheeler et al 2009). Mortality associated with WNV has led managers of zoo collections and conservationists to vaccinate vulnerable species (Nusbaum et al 2003, Chang et al 2007, Okeson et al 2007, and in the interest of public health, researchers have investigated the potential for wildlife vaccination to interrupt WNV transmission (Turell et al 2003, Kilpatrick et al 2010). …”