EXPOSURE OF RAPTORS IN CENTRAL ARGENTINA TO ST. LOUIS ENCEPHALITIS AND WEST NILE VIRUSES

MANSILLA AP; VALOR OROZCO PM; SARASOLA JH; SOLARO C; GRANDE JUAN MANUEL; DIAZ A

JOURNAL OF RAPTOR RESEARCH

RAPTOR RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC

Lugar: Lawrence, Kansas; Año: 2020 vol. 54

0892-1016

Arthropod-borne viruses are the most important emerging viruses worldwide. Saint Louisencephalitis (SLEV) and West Nile (WNV) viruses are vectored by Culex mosquitoes and amplified by several bird species. We carried out an extensive retrospective serosurvey study to analyze the exposure of the community of free ranging birds of prey to SLEV and WNV in La Pampa province, central Argentina. A total of 523 plasma samples were analyzed by plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT) for both viruses. Samples belonging to eight raptor species were collected from 2008 to 2015. The 20.83% (n=24) of the Black vultures (Coragyps atratus), 25% (n=4) of the Southern Caracaras (Caracara plancus) and only 0.28% (n=358) of the American kestrels (Falco sparverius) had detectable neutralizing antibodies against SLEV. The 81.48% (n=27) of the Swainson´s Hawks(Buteo swainsoni) were WNV positives. Only one Swainson´s Hawk was positive for both viruses (3.7%). No neutralizing antibodies were found in samples from Cathartes aura, Milvago chimango, Athene cunicularia and Glaucidium brasilianum. Our results confirm SLEV and WNV circulation in resident and migratory populations of birds of prey in central Argentina. Although the overall seroprevalence detected for this group is lower than in other groups of birds, the prevalences for some species analyzed were very high. These findings suggest the need of further studies regarding circulation and ecological characterization of these viruses in birds communities in the center of Argentina.