WEST NILE VIRUS QUANTIFICATION IN FECES OF EXPERIMENTALLY INFECTED AMERICAN AND FISH CROWS

AARON M. KIPP Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado; Office of the Surgeon General, United States Air Force, Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, District of Columbia

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JENNIFER A. LEHMAN Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado; Office of the Surgeon General, United States Air Force, Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, District of Columbia

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RICHARD A. BOWEN Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado; Office of the Surgeon General, United States Air Force, Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, District of Columbia

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PATRICIA E. FOX Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado; Office of the Surgeon General, United States Air Force, Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, District of Columbia

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MICHAEL R. STEPHENS Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado; Office of the Surgeon General, United States Air Force, Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, District of Columbia

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KACI KLENK Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado; Office of the Surgeon General, United States Air Force, Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, District of Columbia

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NICHOLAS KOMAR Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado; Office of the Surgeon General, United States Air Force, Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, District of Columbia

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MICHEL L. BUNNING Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado; Office of the Surgeon General, United States Air Force, Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, District of Columbia

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.2006.75.688
Volume/Issue:
Volume 75: Issue 4
Page(s):
688–690
Restricted access
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To better understand the potential environmental health risk presented by West Nile virus (WNV)-contaminated feces, we quantified the amount of WNV present in the feces of experimentally infected American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) and fish crows (Corvus ossifragus). Peak fecal titers ranged from 103.5 to 108.8 plaque-forming units (PFU)/g for 10 American crows and from 102.3 to 106.4 PFU/g for 10 fish crows. The presence of infectious WNV in bird feces indicates a potential for direct transmission of WNV. Thus, handlers of sick or dead birds should take appropriate precautions to avoid exposure to fecal material.

Author Notes

Copyright:
Copyright 2006 The American Society of Tropical Medicine 2006
Received:
08 Feb 2005
|
Accepted:
24 Jun 2006
|
Published Online:
Oct 2006
Cover The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Print ISSN:
0002-9637
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