Serological Evidences of West Nile Virus in Domestic Bird Species in the Samsun Province

Authors : Sinan Pir, Harun Albayrak

Pages : 105-108

Doi:10.35864/evmd.523456

View : 35 | Download : 8

Publication Date : 2017-12-15

Article Type : Research

Abstract :West Nile fever (WNF) is a zoonotic disease, occurring nearly globally. Birds are important host species of West nile virus. West nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne viral disease. Although West Nile Virus causes an asymptomatic infection, especially it can cause neurologic disorders in humans, birds and horses. In this study, blood samples were randomly collected from domestic birds (chicken, duck, goose and turkey). The material consisted of 736 domestic birds, including 394 geese, 129 ducks, 117 turkeys and 96 chickens, from Samsun province in northern Turkey. The serum samples were analysed for the presence of antibodies to WNV using a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (C-ELISA). Seropositivity rates in chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys were detected as 3.1%, 0.8%, 1.8% and 17.9% for WNV. Out of 736 serum samples examined, 32 (4.3%) were positive for WNV. The results, recorded for the first time for WNV in Turkey, supported the hypothesis that domestic bird act as a potential reservoir of WNV, and thus have a role in the epidemiology of these diseases.
Keywords : Domestic birds, ELISA, Turkey, West Nile virus