Experimental infection of cliff swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) with varying doses of West Nile virus

P.T. Oesterle; N.M. Nemeth; Kaci K. VanDalen; H. Sullivan; K.T. Bentler; G.R. Young; R. G. McLean; L. Clark; C. Smeraski; Jeffrey S. Hall

doi:10.4269/ajtmh.2009.09-0136

Experimental infection of cliff swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) with varying doses of West Nile virus

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

By: P.T. Oesterle, N.M. Nemeth, Kaci K. VanDalen, H. Sullivan, K.T. Bentler, G.R. Young, R. G. McLean, L. Clark, C. Smeraski, and Jeffrey S. Hall

https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.2009.09-0136

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Abstract

Cliff swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) were inoculated with differing doses of West Nile virus (WNV) to evaluate their potential role as reservoir hosts in nature. Swallows often nest in large colonies in habitats and months associated with high mosquito abundance and early WNV transmission in North America. Additionally, cliff swallow diet consists of insects, including mosquitoes, leading to an additional potential route of WNV infection. The average peak viremia titer among infected cliff swallows was 10^6.3 plaque-forming units (PFU)/mL serum and the reservoir competence index was 0.34. There was no correlation between dose and probability of becoming infected or viremia peak and duration. Oral shedding was detected from 2 to 14 days post-inoculation with an average peak titer of 10⁴⁴ PFU/swab. These results suggest that cliff swallows are competent reservoir hosts of WNV and therefore, they may play a role in early seasonal amplification and maintenance of WNV. Copyright ?? 2009 by The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

Suggested Citation

Oesterle, P., Nemeth, N., VanDalen, K.K., Sullivan, H., Bentler, K., Young, G., McLean, R.G., Clark, L., Smeraski, C., Hall, J.S., 2009, Experimental infection of cliff swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) with varying doses of West Nile virus: American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, v. 81, no. 6, p. 1159-1164, https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.2009.09-0136.

Additional publication details
Publication type	Article
Publication Subtype	Journal Article
Title	Experimental infection of cliff swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) with varying doses of West Nile virus
Series title	American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
DOI	10.4269/ajtmh.2009.09-0136
Volume	81
Issue	6
Year Published	2009
Language	English
Publisher	ASTMH
Contributing office(s)	National Wildlife Health Center
Description	6 p.
First page	1159
Last page	1164