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Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg., 76(4), 2007, pp. 782-784
Copyright © 2007 by The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

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SHORT REPORT


FOX SQUIRREL (SCIURUS NIGER) ASSOCIATIONS WITH WEST NILE VIRUS

J. JEFFREY ROOT*, PAUL T. OESTERLE, HEATHER J. SULLIVAN, JEFFREY S. HALL, NICOLE L. MARLENEE, ROBERT G. MCLEAN, JOHN A. MONTENIERI, AND LARRY CLARK
United States Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, Colorado; Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado; United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado

 

ABSTRACT

Tree squirrels (Sciurus spp.) have been recently shown to be commonly exposed to West Nile virus (WNV). Many characteristics of WNV infections in tree squirrels are unknown. To better understand WNV associations in fox squirrels (S. niger), we conducted mark-recapture sampling (N = 72) and radio telemetry to study the longitudinal seroprevalence, seroconversions, and ectoparasites of these animals during 2005–2006 in northern Colorado. Five seroconversions were documented during this study. The majority of seroconversions occurred during the late summer/fall months. However, one seroconversion was documented over the time period of February to late March 2005. Fleas (Orchopeas howardi) were tested for WNV RNA using real-time PCR techniques. No WNV RNA positive fleas (N = 33) were detected. In addition, urine samples (N = 17) opportunistically collected from fox squirrels were negative for WNV RNA. Results indicate that seroconversions can be observed in fox squirrels during low WNV transmission years.

Received June 21, 2006. Accepted for publication December 5, 2006.

Acknowledgments: The authors thank K. Bentler (National Wildlife Research Center, NWRC) and N. Roberts (NWRC) for field assistance, K. Klenk (NWRC) for laboratory assistance, B. Bolling (Colorado State University, CSU) and M. Doyle (Larimer County Health Department, LCHD) for consultation, and both private and public land stewards for logistical assistance.

Financial support: Funding for this work was provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (LC: CDC IAA #03FED12031).

* Address correspondence to J. Jeffrey Root, National Wildlife Research Center, 4101 La Porte Ave., Fort Collins, CO 80521. E-mail: jeff.root{at}aphis.usda.gov

Authors’ addresses: J. Jeffrey Root, Paul T. Oesterle, Heather J. Sullivan, 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: 970-266-6050, Fax: 970-266-6138, E-mails: jeff.root{at}aphis.usda.gov, paul.t.oesterle{at}aphis.usda.gov, heather.j.sullivan{at}aphis.usda.gov, jeffery.s.hall{at}aphis.usda.gov, robert.g.mclean{at}aphis.usda.gov, and larry.clark{at}aphis.usda.gov. Nicole L. Marlenee, Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, Telephone: 970-491-8184, Fax: 970-491-4383, E-mail: marlenee{at}colostate.edu. John A. Montenieri, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, Telephone: 970-221-6457, Fax 970-221-6476, E-mail: Jam3{at}cdc.gov.

Reprint requests: Dr. Jeff Root, National Wildlife Research Center, 4101 La Porte Ave., Fort Collins, CO 80521. Telephone: 970-266-6050, Fax: 970-266-6138, E-mail: jeff.root{at}aphis.usda.gov.






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