Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) is a zoonotic pathogen which is maintained in an enzootic cycle between mosquitoes and birds; humans, equines, other mammals and some bird species are dead-end hosts. Lineage 1 WNV strains have predominated in Europe since the 1960s. However, in 2004 lineage 2 strains emerged in Hungary and Russia, respectively, spreading since then to a number of neighbouring countries (e.g., Austria, Greece, Italy, Serbia and Romania). Wild bird mortality is a hallmark of North American WNV outbreaks, a feature uncommon in Europe. This study aimed to compare the course of infection of lineage 1 (NY99) and lineage 2 (Austria/2008) WNV strains in the house sparrow, a bird species common in Europe and North America. House sparrows were inoculated with either NY99 or Austria/2008 WNV strains, or sham-inoculated, and clinical and analytic parameters (viraemia, viral load, antibodies) were examined until 14 days after inoculation. Although all inoculated sparrows became infected, no mortality or clinical signs were observed due to the infection. However, the magnitude and duration of viraemia were higher for NY99 - than for Austria/2008 - infected birds. The house sparrow proved to be a competent host for both strains, although the competence index calculated for NY99 was higher than for Austria/2008. Viral load in tissues and swabs was also higher in NY99-inoculated sparrows. In conclusion, the house sparrow is a convenient avian model for studying host competence of WNV strains. The observed differences between NY99 and Austria/2008 strains might have important epidemiological consequences for disease incidence and dispersal capacity.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 542-547 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Veterinary Microbiology |
| Volume | 172 |
| Issue number | 3-4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Aug 27 2014 |
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Keywords
- Experimental infection
- Host competence
- House sparrow
- West Nile virus
- WNV lineage 1 and 2
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Microbiology
- veterinary(all)
Cite this
Experimental infection of house sparrows (Passer domesticus) with West Nile virus strains of lineages 1 and 2. / Del Amo, Javier; Llorente, Francisco; Pérez-Ramirez, Elisa; Soriguer, Ramón C.; Figuerola, Jordi; Nowotny, Norbert; Jiménez-Clavero, Miguel Angel.
In: Veterinary Microbiology, Vol. 172, No. 3-4, 27.08.2014, p. 542-547.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Experimental infection of house sparrows (Passer domesticus) with West Nile virus strains of lineages 1 and 2
AU - Del Amo, Javier
AU - Llorente, Francisco
AU - Pérez-Ramirez, Elisa
AU - Soriguer, Ramón C.
AU - Figuerola, Jordi
AU - Nowotny, Norbert
AU - Jiménez-Clavero, Miguel Angel
PY - 2014/8/27
Y1 - 2014/8/27
N2 - West Nile virus (WNV) is a zoonotic pathogen which is maintained in an enzootic cycle between mosquitoes and birds; humans, equines, other mammals and some bird species are dead-end hosts. Lineage 1 WNV strains have predominated in Europe since the 1960s. However, in 2004 lineage 2 strains emerged in Hungary and Russia, respectively, spreading since then to a number of neighbouring countries (e.g., Austria, Greece, Italy, Serbia and Romania). Wild bird mortality is a hallmark of North American WNV outbreaks, a feature uncommon in Europe. This study aimed to compare the course of infection of lineage 1 (NY99) and lineage 2 (Austria/2008) WNV strains in the house sparrow, a bird species common in Europe and North America. House sparrows were inoculated with either NY99 or Austria/2008 WNV strains, or sham-inoculated, and clinical and analytic parameters (viraemia, viral load, antibodies) were examined until 14 days after inoculation. Although all inoculated sparrows became infected, no mortality or clinical signs were observed due to the infection. However, the magnitude and duration of viraemia were higher for NY99 - than for Austria/2008 - infected birds. The house sparrow proved to be a competent host for both strains, although the competence index calculated for NY99 was higher than for Austria/2008. Viral load in tissues and swabs was also higher in NY99-inoculated sparrows. In conclusion, the house sparrow is a convenient avian model for studying host competence of WNV strains. The observed differences between NY99 and Austria/2008 strains might have important epidemiological consequences for disease incidence and dispersal capacity.
AB - West Nile virus (WNV) is a zoonotic pathogen which is maintained in an enzootic cycle between mosquitoes and birds; humans, equines, other mammals and some bird species are dead-end hosts. Lineage 1 WNV strains have predominated in Europe since the 1960s. However, in 2004 lineage 2 strains emerged in Hungary and Russia, respectively, spreading since then to a number of neighbouring countries (e.g., Austria, Greece, Italy, Serbia and Romania). Wild bird mortality is a hallmark of North American WNV outbreaks, a feature uncommon in Europe. This study aimed to compare the course of infection of lineage 1 (NY99) and lineage 2 (Austria/2008) WNV strains in the house sparrow, a bird species common in Europe and North America. House sparrows were inoculated with either NY99 or Austria/2008 WNV strains, or sham-inoculated, and clinical and analytic parameters (viraemia, viral load, antibodies) were examined until 14 days after inoculation. Although all inoculated sparrows became infected, no mortality or clinical signs were observed due to the infection. However, the magnitude and duration of viraemia were higher for NY99 - than for Austria/2008 - infected birds. The house sparrow proved to be a competent host for both strains, although the competence index calculated for NY99 was higher than for Austria/2008. Viral load in tissues and swabs was also higher in NY99-inoculated sparrows. In conclusion, the house sparrow is a convenient avian model for studying host competence of WNV strains. The observed differences between NY99 and Austria/2008 strains might have important epidemiological consequences for disease incidence and dispersal capacity.
KW - Experimental infection
KW - Host competence
KW - House sparrow
KW - West Nile virus
KW - WNV lineage 1 and 2
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84904746738&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84904746738&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.vetmic.2014.06.005
DO - 10.1016/j.vetmic.2014.06.005
M3 - Article
VL - 172
SP - 542
EP - 547
JO - Veterinary Microbiology
JF - Veterinary Microbiology
SN - 0378-1135
IS - 3-4
ER -