This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (17) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Weingartl, H. M. Articles by Marszal, P. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Weingartl, H. M. Articles by Marszal, P.

Experimental West Nile Virus Infection in Blue Jays (Cyanocitta cristata) and Crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos)

National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Ten crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) and three blue jays (Cyanocitta cristata), species indigenous to North America, were intravenously inoculated with 10³ PFU of West Nile virus (WNV) strain NY99 for production of positive tissues for Canadian surveillance. Both species developed clinical signs 4 days postinoculation (dpi). Virus was detected in blood, cloacal and tracheal swabs, and in a number of organs by reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and virus isolation (titers reaching over 10⁷ PFU/0.1 g). Virus appeared as early as 1 dpi in blood (10²–10³ PFU/ml) and spleen (10³–10⁴ PFU/0.1 g of tissue), whereas kidney, liver, intestine, gonads, heart, skeletal muscle, and lung tested positive for WNV in a later stage of the infection. Immunostaining (IHC) using heterologous rabbit anti-WNV polyclonal antiserum detected viral antigen in a wide range of organs, starting at 2 dpi. Detection of WNV antigen in the brain of blue jays and crows by IHC was laborious as only few cells, not present in all sections, would stain positive. Mononuclear cells appeared to be an important target for virus replication, contributing to virus spread throughout tissues during the infection. This conclusion was based on the positive IHC staining of these cells in organs before virus antigen detection in parenchymal cells and supported by virus isolation and RT-PCR–positive results in white blood cells. The inability of blue jays and crows to perch and fly may reflect weakness due to generalized infection and marked skeletal muscle involvement, although involvement of the central nervous system cannot be excluded.

Key words: Blue jays; crows; immunohistochemistry; infection; RT-PCR; virus isolation; West Nile virus.

Request reprints from Dr. H. Weingartl, NCFAD, CFIA, 1015 Arlington Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3E 3M4 (Canada). E-mail: hweingartl{at}inspection.gc.ca

This article has been cited by other articles:

				H. Shirafuji, K. Kanehira, M. Kubo, T. Shibahara, and T. Kamio Experimental West Nile Virus Infection in Jungle Crows (Corvus macrorhynchos) Am J Trop Med Hyg, May 1, 2008; 78(5): 838 - 842. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. F. Hinckley, D. R. O'Leary, and E. B. Hayes Transmission of West Nile Virus Through Human Breast Milk Seems to Be Rare Pediatrics, March 1, 2007; 119(3): e666 - e671. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. M. Kinney, C. Y.-H. Huang, M. C. Whiteman, R. A. Bowen, S. A. Langevin, B. R. Miller, and A. C. Brault Avian virulence and thermostable replication of the North American strain of West Nile virus J. Gen. Virol., December 1, 2006; 87(12): 3611 - 3622. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Clark, J. Hall, R. McLean, M. Dunbar, K. Klenk, R. Bowen, and C. A. Smeraski Susceptibility of greater sage-grouse to experimental infection with west nile virus. J. Wildl. Dis., January 1, 2006; 42(1): 14 - 22. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. E. J. Gibbs, A. E. Ellis, D. G. Mead, A. B. Allison, J. K. Moulton, E. W. Howerth, and D. E. Stallknecht WEST NILE VIRUS DETECTION IN THE ORGANS OF NATURALLY INFECTED BLUE JAYS (CYANOCITTA CRISTATA) J. Wildl. Dis., April 1, 2005; 41(2): 354 - 362. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]