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Publication
Serological evidence of West Nile virus in wild birds in Portugal
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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
West Nile virus (WNV) has a zoonotic transmission cycle. Avian species are considered the
definitive hosts, and mosquitoes and other arthropods are the main vectors. Humans are
considered accidental and dead-end hosts, since mammals are unable to efficiently amplify
the virus. We aimed at studying serological prevalence of WNV circulation in wild birds in
Portugal. Three hundred and six individuals belonging to 34 different species and 11 orders
were sampled, , and tested with a commercial ELISA kit for antibodies to WNV. Results were
positive for 64 samples (20.9%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 16.5-25.9%) as follows:
Accipitriformes (n=44; 23%; 95% CI: 17.3-29.7%), Ciconiiformes (n=4; 9.3%¸95% CI: 2.6-
22.1%), Columbiformes (n=1; 16.7%¸95% CI: 0.4-64.1%), Otidiformes (n=1; 2.5%; 95% CI: 0.0-
97.5), and Strigiformes (n=14; 31.1%¸95% CI: 18.2-46.7%). So far, serological and molecular
evidence of WNV circulation was mostly restricted to the southern part of the country, and
our preliminary results found antibodies to WNV in samples collected from birds in the
North of Portugal. Climate has been recognized as one of the main factors influencing WNV
activity and dispersal. With the changes that have taken place in recent years at a global
level, new studies are needed to assess the real epidemic situation of the virus in Portugal.
Description
Keywords
Antibodies ELISA Seroprevalence West Nile virus Wild birds
Pedagogical Context
Citation
LOUREIRO, Filipa [et al.] (2024) - Serological evidence of West Nile virus in wild birds in Portugal. In XVI Jornadas de Genética e Biotecnologia / VI Jornadas Ibéricas de Genética e Biotecnologia. Vila Real, 2024 - Book of abstracts. Vila Real : UTAD. p. 133p.