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West Nile virus (WNV) infections in free-ranging birds were studied in Slidell, St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, after a human encephalitis outbreak peaked there in July 2002. Seroprevalence in resident, free-ranging wild birds in one suburban site was 25% and 24% in August and October, respectively, indicating that most transmission had ceased by early August. Mortality rates, seroprevalence rates, host competence, and crude population estimates were used in mathematical models to predict actual infection rates, population impacts, and importance as amplifying hosts for several common passerine birds. Northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) and house sparrow (Passer domesticus) were the principal amplifying hosts, but blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata) and northern mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) also contributed. The blue jay population was reduced by an estimated 47%. A variety of passerine bird species combined to play an important role as amplifying hosts in the WNV transmission cycle.
Received July 22, 2004. Accepted for publication January 6, 2005.
Acknowledgments: Brad Biggerstaff assisted with statistical analyses. Paul Doherty provided advice on estimating bird populations. Discussions with Andrew Spielman led to the concept of "mosquito inoculation index" as used in this paper. Field assistance was provided by Leah Colton, Sarah Lasater, Gabrielle Dietrich, Michel Bunning, Kevin Caillouet, Dawn Wesson, Megan Hughes, Rachel Bru, James Bru, and Emily Moore. The authors thank property owners for access to study sites. The St. Tammany Parish Mosquito Abatement District (Director, Charles Palmisano), Slidell Memorial Hospital (Associate Administrator, Bruce Clement), Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge (Manager, Pon Dixson), Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (Manager, David Ruple), Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge (Manager, Jereme Phillips), University of Southern Mississippi Animal Research Facility (Manager, Juliann Rich), and Michel Bunning provided logistical support. The authors thank Oliver Komar for his critique of the manuscript. Funding was provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
* Address correspondence to Nicholas Komar, CDC, P.O. Box 2087, Fort Collins, CO 80522. E-mail: nkomar{at}cdc.gov
Authors’ addresses: Nicholas Komar, Nicholas A. Panella, Stanley A. Langevin, Aaron C. Brault, and Eric Edwards, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, P.O. Box 2087, Fort Collins, CO 80521, Telephone: 970-221-6400, Fax: 970-221-6476. Manuel Amador, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1324 Calle Cañada, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00920, Telephone: 787-706-2399, Fax: 787-706-2496. Jennifer C. Owen, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, 118 College Drive, Box 5018, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, Telephone: 601-266-6215, Fax: 601-266-5797.
Reprint requests: Nicholas Komar, CDC, P.O. Box 2087, Fort Collins, CO 80522, Telephone: Office (970) 221-6496, Mobile (970) 567-4970, Fax: (970) 221-6476, E-mail: nkomar{at}cdc.gov.
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