Emerging Infectious Diseases (Jan 2008)

Magpies as Hosts for West Nile Virus, Southern France

  • Elsa Jourdain,
  • Michel Gauthier-Clerc,
  • Philippe Sabatier,
  • Océane Grège,
  • Timothy Greenland,
  • Agnès Leblond,
  • Murielle Lafaye,
  • Hervé G. Zeller

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3201/eid1401.070630
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14, no. 1
pp. 158 – 160

Abstract

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European magpies (Pica pica) from southern France were tested for antibodies to West Nile virus (WNV) and viral shedding in feces during spring–autumn 2005. Results suggest that this peridomestic species may be a suitable sentinel species and a relevant target for additional investigations on WNV ecology in Europe.

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