West Nile Virus Epizootiology, Central Red River Valley, North Dakota and Minnesota, 2002–2005

Bell, Jeffrey A.; Brewer, Christina M.; Mickelson, Nathan J.; Garman, Gabriel W.; Vaughan, Jefferson A.

doi:10.3201/eid1208.060129

Cited by 65 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…This species is known to be a particularly efficient vector of WNv [29], and has been implicated as the primary vector of WNv in the northern Great Plains [2], [30], [31]. We are not able to prove this association with Culex tarsalis in our analysis of human cases, but the environmental relationships we observed offered several lines of evidence in support of this hypothesis.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 64%

Ecological Niche of the 2003 West Nile Virus Epidemic in the Northern Great Plains of the United States

et al. 2008

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BackgroundThe incidence of West Nile virus (WNv) has remained high in the northern Great Plains compared to the rest of the United States. However, the reasons for the sustained high risk of WNv transmission in this region have not been determined. To assess the environmental drivers of WNv in the northern Great Plains, we analyzed the county-level spatial pattern of human cases during the 2003 epidemic across a seven-state region.Methodology/Principal FindingsCounty-level data on WNv cases were examined using spatial cluster analysis, and were used to fit statistical models with weather, climate, and land use variables as predictors. In 2003 there was a single large cluster of elevated WNv risk encompassing North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska along with portions of eastern Montana and Wyoming. The relative risk of WNv remained high within the boundaries of this cluster from 2004–2007. WNv incidence during the 2003 epidemic was found to have a stronger relationship with long-term climate patterns than with annual weather in either 2002 or 2003. WNv incidence increased with mean May–July temperature and had a unimodal relationship with total May–July precipitation. WNv incidence also increased with the percentage of irrigated cropland and with the percentage of the human population living in rural areas.Conclusions/SignificanceThe spatial pattern of WNv cases during the 2003 epidemic in the northern Great Plains was associated with both climatic gradients and land use patterns. These results were interpreted as evidence that environmental conditions across much of the northern Great Plains create a favorable ecological niche for Culex tarsalis, a particularly efficient vector of WNv. Further research is needed to determine the proximal causes of sustained WNv transmission and to enhance strategies for disease prevention.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 64%

Ecological Niche of the 2003 West Nile Virus Epidemic in the Northern Great Plains of the United States

et al. 2008

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“…tarsalis is the principal vector, while in southern regions of the US, Cx. p. quinquefasciatus is most important (Bell et al, 2006; Molaei et al, 2010; Goldberg et al, 2010; Venkatesan and Rasgon, 2010). In Florida, Cx.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

West Nile virus population genetics and evolution

Pesko

Ebel

2012

Infection, Genetics and Evolution

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West Nile virus (WNV) (Flaviviridae: Flavivirus) is transmitted from mosquitoes to birds, but can cause fatal encephalitis in infected humans. Since its introduction into North America in New York in 1999, it has spread throughout the western hemisphere. Multiple outbreaks have also occurred in Europe over the last 20 years. This review highlights recent efforts to understand how host pressures impact viral population genetics, genotypic and phenotypic changes which have occurred in the WNV genome as it adapts to this novel environment, and molecular epidemiology of WNV worldwide. Future research directions are also discussed.

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“…Persistence and resurgence seem linked to climate variation (Bell et al 2006) and to shifts in the hosts’ “herd immunity” and declines in their abundance (Reisen and Brault 2007). Relatively little is known, however, about how WNV has affected populations of North American birds (Kilpatrick et al 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differential Impact of West Nile Virus on California Birds

Wheeler

Barker

Fang

et al. 2009

Condor

102

106

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The strain of West Nile virus (WNV) currently epidemic in North America contains a genetic mutation elevating its virulence in birds, especially species in the family Corvidae. Although dead American Crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) have been the hallmark of the epidemic, the overall impact of WNV on North America's avifauna remains poorly understood and has not been addressed thoroughly in California. Here, we evaluate variation by species in the effect of WNV on California birds from 2004 to 2007 by using (1) seroprevalence in free-ranging birds, (2) percentage of carcasses of each species reported by the public that tested positive for WNV, (3) mortality determined from experimental infections, and (4) population declines detected by trend analysis of Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) data. Using Bayesian linear models, we extrapolate trends in BBS data from 1980 to . We attribute significant declines from expected abundance trends in areas supporting epiornitics to WNV transmission. We combine risk assessed from each of the four data sets to generate an overall score describing WNV risk by species. The susceptibility of California avifauna to WNV varies widely, with overall risk scores ranging from low for the refractory Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) through high for the susceptible American Crow. Other species at high risk include, in descending order, the House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus), Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), Western Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma californica), and Yellow-billed Magpie (Pica nuttalli). Our analyses emphasize the importance of multiple data sources in assessing the effect of an invading pathogen.

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West Nile Virus Epizootiology, Central Red River Valley, North Dakota and Minnesota, 2002–2005

Cited by 65 publications

References 14 publications

Ecological Niche of the 2003 West Nile Virus Epidemic in the Northern Great Plains of the United States

Ecological Niche of the 2003 West Nile Virus Epidemic in the Northern Great Plains of the United States

West Nile virus population genetics and evolution

Differential Impact of West Nile Virus on California Birds

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