Isolation of eastern equine encephalitis virus and West Nile virus from crows during increased arbovirus surveillance in Connecticut, 2000.

Abstract

Abstract. The emergence of the West Nile virus (WNV) in the northeastern United States has drawn emphasis to the need for expanded arbovirus surveillance in Connecticut. Although the state of Connecticut began a comprehensive mosquito-screening program in 1997, only since 1999 have there been efforts to determine the prevalence of arboviruses in bird populations in this state. Herein, we report on our results of an arbovirus survey of 1,704 bird brains. Included in this report are the first known isolations of eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) from crows and data on the geographic and temporal distribution of 1,092 WNV isolations from crow species. Moreover, these nine isolations of EEEV identify regions of Connecticut where the virus is rarely found. With the exception of WNV and EEEV, no other arboviruses were isolated or detected. Taken together, these data illustrate the distribution of avian borne EEEV and WNV in 2000 and support the need for ongoing avian arbovirus surveillance in Connecticut.

Comparison of SmartCycler Real-Time Reverse Transcription-PCR Assay in a Public Health Laboratory with Direct Immunofluorescence and Cell Culture Assays in a Medical Center for Detection of Influenza A Virus

“…The SmartCycler protocol for the detection of West Nile virus in use at the DPH Laboratory for the testing of bird brains uses 2.5 l of extract (3). Initial studies in the DPH Laboratory with influenza A virus indicated that 2.5 l yielded the best results (data not shown).…”

Comprehensive Mapping of Common Immunodominant Epitopes in the Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus E2 Protein Recognized by Avian Antibody Responses

“…In addition to playing important roles in expanding geographical distribution of EEEV, bird hosts are also necessary for the amplification of NA EEEV [8]. High attack and fatality rates are commonly associated with EEEV infection of horses, but has also been documented in swine [9], pheasants [10], ostriches [11], emus [12], turkeys [13] and whooping cranes [14].…”

Detection of West Nile virus using formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissues in crows and horses: quantification of viral transcripts by real-time RT-PCR

“…To detect viral activity in subsequent years, surveillance programs were implemented through out the United States (Beckwith et al, 2002;Cherry et al, 2001;Komar, 2001). Spread of the WNV is likely to further continue till an endemic infection level is established in the continent.…”

“…WNV in birds has been shown to be a systemic disease showing multiple organ involvement (Steele et al, 2000). Diagnosis of WNV in birds has mostly relied upon identifying the presence of virus in the bird tissues, using virus isolation and or real-time RT-PCR (Beckwith et al, 2002). A monoclonal antibody based enzyme immunosorbent assay that distinguishes WNV from other flaviviruses has now also become available (Hunt et al, 2002).…”