Seroprevalence of West Nile virus in Cinereous vultures (Aegypius monachus) and Griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus) in the centre region of Portugal

• Author(s): Loureiro, Filipa ; Cardoso, Luis ; Matos, Ana Cristina ; Matos, Ana ; Matos, Manuela ; Silva, Filipe ; Coelho, Ana Cláudia
• Date: 2024
• Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.11/10079
• Origin: Repositório Científico do Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco
• Subject(s): AeGypius monachus; Cinereous vulture; Griffon vulture; Gyp fulvus; West Nile Virus; Zoonosis
• Document Type: Conference paper
• Language: English
• Contributor(s): Repositório Científico do Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco

Description

West Nine virus (WNV) is an emergent zoonotic pathogen spread worldwide. This flavivirus is endemically maintained in a life cycle with birds acting as reservoirs, Culex mosquitopes as the main vectors, and human and horses as accidental dead-end hosts. The potential impact ofWNV infection on wildlife populations can be severe, especially in thjreatened or endangered species. This work might be useful as a starting point for a surveillance program to better assess the real distribution of the WNV in Portuguese vulutres. Early virus detection is important for both bird conservation and public health.