Prevalence of neutralizing antibodies to West Nile virus in Eleonora's Falcons in the Canary Islands

J Wildl Dis. 2010 Oct;46(4):1321-4. doi: 10.7589/0090-3558-46.4.1321.

Abstract

Birds are the major amplifying host for West Nile virus (WNV), a flavivirus that may affect humans and transmitted by bloodsucking vectors. Eleonora's Falcons (Falco eleonorae) migrate to the Canary Islands annually from WNV-endemic regions. To investigate the possible role of Eleonora's Falcons in the circulation of WNV, we measured WNV-specific antibodies in 81 falcons captured in 2006. None of the nestlings but 14.8% of the adults had WNV-neutralizing antibodies. RT-PCR did not detect flaviviruses in nonculicine ectoparasites (n=231) of the falcons. These findings suggest that WNV infection did not occur locally, but rather on the wintering grounds or during migration.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animal Migration
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood*
  • Bird Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Bird Diseases / transmission
  • Falconiformes / virology*
  • Female
  • Male
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Spain / epidemiology
  • West Nile Fever / epidemiology
  • West Nile Fever / transmission
  • West Nile Fever / veterinary*
  • West Nile virus / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral