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Serosurveys were conducted to obtain flavivirus and West Nile virus (WNV) seroprevalence data from mammals. Sera from 513 small- and medium-sized mammals collected during late summer and fall 2003 from Colorado, Louisiana, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania were screened for flavivirus-specific antibodies. Sera samples containing antibody to flaviviruses were screened for WNV-specific antibodies by epitope-blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and confirmed with plaque reduction neutralization tests. Prevalence of WNV antibodies among study sites ranged from 0% to 42.8% among the mammal communities sampled. High prevalence rates for WNV were noted among raccoons (100%, with a very small sample size, N = 2), Virginia opossums (50.0%), fox squirrels (49.1%), and eastern gray squirrels (48.3%). The high WNV antibody prevalence noted for tree squirrels, the peri-domestic tendencies of several of these species, and their ease of observation could make these species useful sentinels for monitoring WNV activity within urban communities.
Received October 7, 2004. Accepted for publication December 4, 2004.
Acknowledgments: We are indebted to T. Saab (NWRC), P. Oesterle (NWRC), B. Blackwell (NWRC Sandusky Field Station), NWRC Sandusky Field Station personnel, A. Montoney (OH Wildlife Services), Ohio Wildlife Services Operations personnel, R. Chipman (NY Wildlife Services), K. Preusser (NY Wildlife Services), J. Suckow (PA Wildlife Services) and D. LeBlanc (LA Wildlife Services) for field/logistical assistance, H. Sullivan (NWRC) and K. Bentler (NWRC) for field and laboratory assistance, and B. Blitvich (CSU) for laboratory reagents and advice. The authors thank multiple stewards of public lands in the Fort Collins vicinity, private landowners from Columbia County, NY, land stewards from Albany County, NY, John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge, Fairmont Park Commission, Vector Control Services, Philadelphia, PA, Bucks County Department of Parks and Recreation, C. Furlo (USDA, Wildlife Services), and private land stewards from Calcasieu Parish, LA, for logistical support. Comments from two anonymous reviewers improved an earlier version of this manuscript.
Financial support: Funding for this work was provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (LC: CDC IAA no. 03FED12031 (to USDA) and CDC-US3/CCU820510 (to CSU) and the United States Department of Agriculture.
Author’s addresses: J. Jeffrey Root, Jeffrey S. Hall, Robert G. McLean, and Larry Clark, National Wildlife Research Center, USDA/APHIS/WS, 4101 La Porte Ave., Fort Collins, CO 80521, Telephone: 970-266-6000, Fax: 970-266-6138, E-mails: jeff.root{at}aphis.usda.gov, jeffery.s.hall{at}aphis.usda.gov, robert.g.mclean{at}aphis.usda.gov, larry.clark{at}aphis.usda.gov. Nicole L. Marlenee and Barry J. Beaty, Arthropod-borne and Infectious Diseases Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, Telephone: 970-491-2988, Fax: 970-491-8323, E-mails: marlenee{at}colostate.edu and bbeaty{at}colostate.edu. Justin Gansowski, New York Wildlife Services, USDA, 1930 Route 9, Castleton, NY 12033, Telephone: 518-477-4837, Fax: 518-477-4899, E-mail: justin.gansowski{at}aphis.usda.gov.
Reprint requests: Dr. Larry Clark, National Wildlife Research Center, 4101 LaPorte Ave., Fort Collins, CO 80521.
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