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SEROLOGIC EVIDENCE OF WEST NILE VIRUS EXPOSURE IN NORTH AMERICAN MESOPREDATORS

Sera from 936 mammalian mesopredators (Virginia opossums, gray foxes, striped skunks, hooded skunks, raccoons, a bobcat, and a red fox) were collected during 2003 and 2004 in California, Arizona, Texas, Louisiana, Ohio, and Wyoming and screened for flavivirus-specific antibodies by an epitope-blocking enzyme-linked immunosobent assay (blocking ELISA). Serum samples positive for antibodies against flaviviruses were screened for West Nile virus (WNV)–specific antibodies by blocking ELISA and selectively confirmed with plaque-reduction neutralization tests. High prevalence rates were observed in raccoons (45.6%) and striped skunks (62.9%). The high WNV antibody prevalence noted in mesopredators, their peridomestic tendencies, and their overall pervasiveness make these species potentially useful sentinels for monitoring flaviviruses in defined areas.

Received May 22, 2006. Accepted for publication September 6, 2006.

Acknowledgments: We thank Heather Sullivan (National Wildlife Research Center) for technical assistance in the laboratory, Craig Acres and Michael Pipas (Wyoming Wildlife Services), David Ruid (Louisiana Wildlife Services), Patrick Smith (California Wildlife Services), Denise Ruffino (Texas Wildlife Services), and Chad Heuser (Arizona Wildlife Services) for field and logistical assistance. The comments and suggestions from two anonymous reviewers improved earlier versions of this manuscript.

Financial support: This study was supported by the United States Department of Agriculture.

^* Address correspondence to Kevin T. Bentler, U.S. Department of Agriculture/Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service/Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, 4101 Laporte Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80521. E-mail: kevin.t.bentler{at}aphis.usda.gov

Authors’ addresses: Kevin T. Bentler, Jeffrey S. Hall, J. Jeffrey Root, Kaci Klenk, Brandon Schmit, and Larry Clark, U.S. Department of Agriculture/Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service/Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, 4101 Laporte Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80521, Telephone: 970-266-6000, Fax: 970-266-6138, E-mails: kevin.t.bentler{at}aphis.usda.gov, jeffery.s.hall{at}aphis.usda.gov, jeff.root{at}aphis.usda.gov, kaci.klenk{at}aphis.usda.gov, brandon.b.schmit{at}aphis.usda.gov, and larry.clark{at}aphis.usda.gov. Bradlley F. Blackwell, U.S. Department of Agriculture/Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service/Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Ohio Field Station, 6100 Columbus Avenue, Sandusky, OH 44870, Telephone: 419-625-0242, Fax: 419-625-8465, E-mail: bradley.f.blackwell{at}aphis.usda.gov. Paul C. Ramey, School of Environment and Natural Resources, Ohio State University, 2021 Coffey Road, Room 210, Columbus, OH 43210, Telephone: 614-292-7963, Fax: 614-292-7432, E-mail: ramey.68{at}osu.edu.

Reprint requests: Larry Clark, National Wildlife Research Center, 4101 Laporte Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80521.