Chickens as Sentinels for West Nile Virus
Author Information
Author(s): Stanley A. Langevin, Michel Bunning, Brent Davis, Nicholas Komar
Primary Institution: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Hypothesis
Can domestic chickens serve as effective sentinel species for monitoring West Nile virus transmission?
Conclusion
Chickens are susceptible to West Nile virus infection, develop detectable antibodies, and do not significantly contribute to the transmission cycle, making them suitable sentinels for surveillance.
Supporting Evidence
- All 21 infected chickens developed neutralizing antibodies.
- None of the chickens developed clinical disease.
- Chickens had detectable viremia, but the levels were insufficient to infect mosquitoes.
- Direct transmission of the virus occurred only once among the chickens.
- Chickens are considered strong candidates for use as sentinels for West Nile virus.
Takeaway
This study shows that chickens can get sick from a virus carried by mosquitoes, but they don't get very sick and can help us know if the virus is around.
Methodology
Chickens were inoculated with West Nile virus by needle, mosquito, or orally, and their responses were monitored for infection, antibody development, and transmission.
Limitations
The study primarily focused on a specific strain of West Nile virus and may not represent all strains or conditions in the wild.
Participant Demographics
Dekalb Delta hens aged 17-60 weeks.
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