West Nile virus surveillance using sentinel birds

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Entomology
• Disease Ecology
• Wildlife Health

Background:

• Birds serve as vital sentinels in arbovirus surveillance programs.
• West Nile virus (WNV) surveillance relies on understanding avian host-pathogen dynamics.
• Existing sentinel systems require further validation for North American WNV strains.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and identify optimal sentinel bird species for West Nile virus surveillance.
• To assess the suitability of various avian species for detecting WNV transmission.
• To provide guidance on selecting and implementing sentinel bird monitoring programs.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of arbovirus surveillance programs utilizing avian sentinels.
• Analysis of serosurvey and experimental infection data for candidate sentinel species.
• Evaluation of WNV epizootic data from New York City (1999-2000).

Main Results:

• Chickens and pigeons show potential as captive sentinels, developing antibodies without high vector infectivity.
• House sparrows and pigeons are suggested for free-ranging sentinel use, with local adaptation being key.
• Effective site selection in enzootic foci and long-term monitoring are essential for data interpretation.

Conclusions:

• Sentinel bird programs can effectively detect and monitor West Nile virus transmission.
• Species selection, including chickens, pigeons, and house sparrows, should be context-specific.
• Robust monitoring protocols are necessary for accurate interpretation of WNV surveillance data.