Prevalence and Pathology of West Nile Virus in Naturally Infected House Sparrows, Western Nebraska, 2008

O’Brien, Valerie; Meteyer, Carol U.; Reisen, William K.; Ip, Hon S.; Brown, Charles R.

doi:10.4269/ajtmh.2010.09-0515

Cited by 21 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…Previous studies have suggested that peridomestic species (21) may be more affected by WNV presence because of their close associations with urbanized environments and vector populations (8,22,23). However, our analyses suggest the effects of WNV on landbirds are not restricted to such species.…”

Section: Significancecontrasting

confidence: 53%

Persistent impacts of West Nile virus on North American bird populations

George

Harrigan

LaManna

et al. 2015

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Since its introduction to North America in 1999, West Nile virus (WNV) has had devastating impacts on native host populations, but to date these impacts have been difficult to measure. Using a continental-scale dataset comprised of a quarter-million birds captured over nearly two decades and a recently developed model of WNV risk, we estimated the impact of this emergent disease on the survival of avian populations. We find that populations were negatively affected by WNV in 23 of the 49 species studied (47%). We distinguished two groups of species: those for which WNV negatively impacted survival only during initial spread of the disease (n = 11), and those that show no signs of recovery since disease introduction (n = 12). Results provide a novel example of the taxonomic breadth and persistent impacts of this wildlife disease on a continental scale. Phylogenetic analyses further identify groups (New World sparrows, finches, and vireos) disproportionally affected by temporary or persistent WNV effects, suggesting an evolutionary dimension of disease risk. Identifying the factors affecting the persistence of a disease across host species is critical to mitigating its effects, particularly in a world marked by rapid anthropogenic change.

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Section: Significancecontrasting

confidence: 53%

Persistent impacts of West Nile virus on North American bird populations

George

Harrigan

LaManna

et al. 2015

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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“…Hepatic haemosiderosis is most well known as associated to iron overload in captive wild forest birds but is also frequently associated to haemolytic processes in infectious disease [25]. Haemosiderosis and haemorrhage in relation to WNV has been described previously in the spleen and liver of naturally infected North American passeriformes such as the blue jay ( Cyanocitta cristata ) and the house sparrow ( Passer domesticus ) as well as raptors and owls from the North American continent [26-28]. It has also been described in wild turkeys ( Meleagris gallopavo ) [29], but in an outbreak in farmed chukar partridges ( Alectoris chukar ) and Impeyan pheasants ( Lophophorus impeyanu s), only erythrocytophagocytosis was reported in the spleen, while haemosiderosis was not observed [30].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Natural Bagaza virus infection in game birds in southern Spain

Gamino

Gutiérrez-Guzmán

Fernández-de-Mera

et al. 2012

Vet Res

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In late summer 2010 a mosquito born flavivirus not previously reported in Europe called Bagaza virus (BAGV) caused high mortality in red-legged partridges (Alectoris rufa) and ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus). We studied clinical findings, lesions and viral antigen distribution in naturally BAGV infected game birds in order to understand the apparently higher impact on red-legged partridges. The disease induced neurologic signs in the two galliform species and, to a lesser extent, in common wood pigeons (Columba palumbus). In red-legged partridges infection by BAGV caused severe haemosiderosis in the liver and spleen that was absent in pheasants and less evident in common wood pigeons. Also, BAGV antigen was present in vascular endothelium in multiple organs in red-legged partridges, and in the spleen in common wood pigeons, while in ring-necked pheasants it was only detected in neurons and glial cells in the brain. These findings indicate tropism of BAGV for endothelial cells and a severe haemolytic process in red-legged partridges in addition to the central nervous lesions that were found in all three species.

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“…This is perhaps not surprising if infected bugs remain largely within the same nest as long as nestlings are present, taking repeated blood meals (required each time a bug molts into one of the five instar stages; [71]) from the nestlings present. Contagion of infection among nest-mates is also consistent with direct virus transmission between nestlings in a nest, perhaps through contact with feces or saliva [72]. Some experimental evidence indicates that BCRV can be transmitted directly among house sparrows that share the same cage in the laboratory [57], but further work is needed to determine if this actually occurs in the field.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 68%

Group Size and Nest Spacing Affect Buggy Creek Virus (Togaviridae: Alphavirus) Infection in Nestling House Sparrows

O’Brien

Brown

2011

PLoS ONE

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The transmission of parasites and pathogens among vertebrates often depends on host population size, host species diversity, and the extent of crowding among potential hosts, but little is known about how these variables apply to most vector-borne pathogens such as the arboviruses (arthropod-borne viruses). Buggy Creek virus (BCRV; Togaviridae: Alphavirus) is an RNA arbovirus transmitted by the swallow bug (Oeciacus vicarius) to the cliff swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) and the introduced house sparrow (Passer domesticus) that has recently invaded swallow nesting colonies. The virus has little impact on cliff swallows, but house sparrows are seriously affected by BCRV. For house sparrows occupying swallow nesting colonies in western Nebraska, USA, the prevalence of BCRV in nestling sparrows increased with sparrow colony size at a site but decreased with the number of cliff swallows present. If one nestling in a nest was infected with the virus, there was a greater likelihood that one or more of its nest-mates would also be infected than nestlings chosen at random. The closer a nest was to another nest containing infected nestlings, the greater the likelihood that some of the nestlings in the focal nest would be BCRV-positive. These results illustrate that BCRV represents a cost of coloniality for a vertebrate host (the house sparrow), perhaps the first such demonstration for an arbovirus, and that virus infection is spatially clustered within nests and within colonies. The decreased incidence of BCRV in sparrows as cliff swallows at a site increased reflects the “dilution effect,” in which virus transmission is reduced when a vector switches to feeding on a less competent vertebrate host.

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Prevalence and Pathology of West Nile Virus in Naturally Infected House Sparrows, Western Nebraska, 2008

Cited by 21 publications

References 56 publications

Persistent impacts of West Nile virus on North American bird populations

Persistent impacts of West Nile virus on North American bird populations

Natural Bagaza virus infection in game birds in southern Spain

Group Size and Nest Spacing Affect Buggy Creek Virus (Togaviridae: Alphavirus) Infection in Nestling House Sparrows

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