West Nile virus in birds, Argentina.

DIAZ, LUIS ADRIAN; KOMAR, NICHOLAS; VISINTIN, ANDRES MARIO; DANTUR JURI, MARÍA JULIA; STEIN, MARIAN; LOBO ALLENDE, REBECA; SPINSANTI, LORENA; KONINGHEIM, BRENDA; AGUILAR, JAVIER; LAURITO, MAGDALENA; ALMIRÓN, WALTER RICARDO; CONTIGIANI, MARTA

EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES

CENTERS DISEASE CONTROL

Año: 2008 vol. 14 p. 689 - 691

1080-6040

We report evidence for the introduction and establishment of WNV in Argentina as early as January 2005. Serum samples of free-ranging birds from 5 locations in Argentina were screened. A total of 1,845 avian serum samples were collected from 117 bird species from December 2004 to June 2006. Previous SLEV infections were detected in 105 birds and WNV infections in 43 birds. Anti-WNV antibody titers ranged from 40 to 2560 in birds collected as early as January 2005 in Córdoba city and as late as June 2006 in Mar Chiquita. Recent WNV activity was indicated by seroconversion in four rufous hornero (3 in Córdoba city – 1 between January-February 2005 and 2 between January-March 2005 and 1 in San Miguel de Tucumán between February-May 2006). WNV activity was detected in all five sampling locations and in a variety of ecosystems (Córdoba – periurban thorn forest [0.50%], Mar Chiquita – thorn forest [3.69%], Monte Alto – dry forest [5.03%], Montecristo – cropland [9.52%] and San Miguel de Tucumán – foothills [5.29%]. Our results indicate WNV transmission among resident birds collected further north in Córdoba, Chaco and Tucumán provinces in 2005 and 2006. Our data suggest that WNV was introduced in Argentina prior to 2005 and maintained naturally in enzootic foci where numerous birds of many families are exposed.