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AVIAN MORTALITY SURVEILLANCE FOR WEST NILE VIRUS IN COLORADO

We tested 1,549 avian carcasses of 104 species to identify targets for West Nile virus (WNV) surveillance in Colorado, determine species affected by WNV, compare virus isolation versus RNA detection applied to hearts and oral swabs from carcasses, and compare the VecTest WNV Antigen Assay (VecTest) to standard assays. Forty-two species tested positive. From June to September 2003, 86% of corvids, 34% of non-corvid passerines, and 37% of raptors tested positive. We developed the Target Species Index, which identified American crows as the most important avian indicator species. However, testing multiple species maximizes detection, which may be important early and late in the transmission season. This index may benefit surveillance for other zoonotic pathogens, such as highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus. VecTest using oral swabs was most sensitive for American crow, black-billed magpie, house finch, house sparrow, and American kestrel. Wildlife rehabilitation centers should be recruited to enhance WNV surveillance.

Received June 12, 2006. Accepted for publication November 14, 2006.

Acknowledgments: The authors thank the volunteers and staff at the Rocky Mountain Raptor Program (especially G. Kratz, J. Scherpelz, C. Avila, L. Winta, R. Bates, M. Grove, and C. Phillips), Larimer County Humane Society (especially B. Nightwalker, J. Plunkett, S. Breuilly, and J. Crick), Birds of Prey Foundation (S. Ueblacker), Raptor Education Foundation (A. Price and P. Reshetniak), Laramie Raptor Refuge (C. Symchych and N. Prior), Colorado Division of Wildlife (especially L. Baeten), Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Sanctuary, The Wildlife Center, Inc. in New Mexico, and the many private citizens who contributed dead birds to the study. We also thank J. Velez, K. Burkhalter, and N. Panella for laboratory assistance, K. Huyvaert for assistance with statistical analyses, and R. Bowen for his support.

Financial support: This research was funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

^* Address correspondence to Nicole M. Nemeth, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523. E-mail: nnemeth{at}colostate.edu

Authors’ addresses: Nicole M. Nemeth, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, Telephone: 970-491-8165, Fax: 970-491-3557, E-mail: nnemeth{at}colostate.edu. Susan Beckett, Eric Edwards, Kaci Klenk, and Nicholas Komar, Arbovirus Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO 80521, Telephone: 970-221-6400, Fax: 970-221-6476, E-mails: susanmb79{at}yahoo.com, ede2{at}cdc.gov, Kaci.Klenk{at}aphis.usda.gov, and nkomar{at}cdc.gov.

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