Abstract
We document effects of West Nile virus (WNV) on American Crows. More than two thirds of our crows died of WNV infection, peaking when the proportion of infected mosquitoes at roosts was greatest. WNV antibody prevalence in crows was low. Local ecologic effects can be dramatic as WNV inhabits new areas.
Highlights
The introduction of West Nile virus (WNV) to North America in the summer of 1999 prompted concern about effects of WNV disease in wildlife
The average annual survival rate for breeding-age American Crows from six studies across North America has been estimated at 89.6% [9], though comparing survival rates between studies is difficult as our sample was largely biased towards hatch-year crows
Survival curve (Kaplan-Meier curve; staggered-entry method) [10,11] for radio-tracked American Crows (N = 39) relative to the weekly minimum infection rates (MIR) of mosquitoes collected by week at radio-tracked crow roost sites in east-central Illinois in 2002
Summary
During the months of May through October, radio transmitters were attached to 39 crows This cohort consisted of 5 adults, 6 sub-adults, and 28 hatch-year crows; 9 were male and 30 were female, as determined by discriminant function analysis or by gonadal observation on dead crows. Survival curve (Kaplan-Meier curve; staggered-entry method) [10,11] for radio-tracked American Crows (N = 39) relative to the weekly minimum infection rates (MIR) of mosquitoes collected by week at radio-tracked crow roost sites in east-central Illinois in 2002. Serology showed that WNV-specific antibodies were present in 5 of 156 free-ranging crows (Table) One of these seropositive crows was tracked and found dead and positive for WNV 56 days after the blood sample was taken. Details of the five seropositive crows captured in eastcentral Illinois, 2002a
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