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Date: Wed, 18 Sept 2002
Posted by: Emi K Saito (esaito@usgs.gov)

In response to Dr. McLean's inquiry, the USGS National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) has been receiving reports daily of raptor and owl morbidity and mortality since August 10. States reporting losses to NWHC include: OH, IA, IN, KY, MN, WI, MI, PA, MD, VA, IL, and NE. This epizootic has affected 100's of raptors and owls of at least 10 species. The NWHC has initiated a protocol to receive up to 10 raptors from each state reporting high morbidity and mortality for not only WNV testing, but also a complete diagnostic work-up, in order to determine whether the deaths are truly being caused by WN.

Communication has been critical with these states to determine the extent and distribution of cases. We are coordinating with a selected state or federal representative from these states to receive fresh specimens from a range of raptor species and geographic locations within the states. To date, NWHC has received 15 specimens and a variety of diagnostic tests are still pending. WNV has been confirmed in 2 owls, but final diagnoses are still pending.

Emi Kate Saito, VMD, MSPH
West Nile Virus Surveillance Coordinator
U.S. Geological Survey
National Wildlife Health Center
6006 Schroeder Road
Madison, WI  53711-6223
office: (608)270-2456
fax: (608)270-2415
esaito@usgs.gov

----- Original Message -----
From: (Robert.G.McLean@aphis.usda.gov)
To: (envrisk@cornell.edu)
Cc: (owner-WESTNILEVIRUS-L@cornell.edu); (raptor@umn.edu); WESTNILEVIRUS-L
(WESTNILEVIRUS-L@cornell.edu)
Sent: Friday, September 13, 2002 5:35 PM
Subject: Re: Raptors Dying of West Nile Virus

Does anyone have definitive laboratory confirmed results of WNV from raptors associated with these dieoffs yet? If so, what is the prevalence of infection with the virus? If not, what is the reason (s) for the delay in getting the results since this appears to be a serious problem that has been progressing for weeks now and needs to be addressed. Are dead free-ranging raptors being observed and tested in these states also? Obviously, other disease agents and toxins are being investigated as well.

Experimental results from use of the equine vaccine in American crows showed some protection from challenge with WNV (5 of 11 survived) in this very susceptible species (0 of 9 unvaccinated crows survived). This is only limited protection, but as was suggested it may be worth it to vaccinate valuable birds anyhow because the vaccine itself did not harm the crows either.

It was mentioned that WNV has been confirmed in birds in all contiguous states except Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and Washington. Is there data on confirmed WNV positive birds in California, Oregon, and Idaho?

Bob McLean

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