RE: vectorsWNV

>Along this thought, Does anyone know if ticks play a role in the WN cycle?
>or what the virus overwinters in?

There have been studies (done by, I believe, people at the Connecticut
agricultural station) that have shown that ticks can pick up the virus from
infected animals. When these ticks are fed on clean animals, however, they
do not transmit the virus. These studies were done in a lab setting, using
hamsters. While they don't provide definitive proof, they certainly
indicate that ticks may not be a major mover of WNV.

There are several theories regarding overwintering--insect vectors, birds
that survive the winter, bird-bird transmission through the winter, other
mammals, etc. To the best of my knowledge, nobody yet knows the mechanism
of overwintering. My personal opinion is that it is probably a combination
of the above.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

P. Bryon Backenson
Research Scientist and Assistant Director
Arthropod-Borne Disease Program
New York State Department of Health
ESP, Corning Tower Room 632
Albany, NY 12237
phone: 518-474-4568
fax: 518-473-1708
e-mail: bpb01@health.state.ny.us
Received on Fri Oct 11 15:51:56 2002