Evaluation of Eared Dove (Zenaida auriculata, Columbidae) as avian host for the St. Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV, Flavivirus)

DIAZ, L. A.; OCCELLI, M.; LUDUEÑA ALMEIDA, F.; ALMIRON, W. R.; CONTIGIANI, M. S.

VECTOR-BORNE AND ZOONOTIC DISEASES

SocZEE - Society for Zoonotic Ecology and Epidemiology.

Lugar: Manhattan, KS ; Año: 2008 vol. 8 p. 277 - 277

1530-3667

p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">The St. Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV) is an emerging Flavivirus in South America countries. Its ecology and biological transmission cycles are scarcely known. Eared doves (Zenaida auriculata) were frequently found infected by the SLEV, therefore, it could be suspected as SLEV avian host. Thirty eared doves were inoculated subcutaneously with SLEV 78-6507 viral strain and bled daily. Mosquitoes collections were carried out using can traps baited with chicken and eared doves for comparison. No death or clinical signs of illness were observed in the inoculated doves. The viremia titers ranged between 2 and 5.52 log10 pfu/mL during 1 to 7 days post inoculation, the highest being observed on the 4th dpi. Four types of viremia profiles were observed: Class Ia (viremia titers ¡Ý 4 log