Medica Darcy L, Clauser Rachael, Bildstein Keith
Biology Department, The Pennsylvania State University, Schuylkill Campus, 200 University Drive, Schuylkill Haven, Pennsylvania 17972, USA.
J Wildl Dis. 2007 Jul;43(3):538-41. doi: 10.7589/0090-3558-43.3.538.
West Nile virus (WNV) has been identified in nearly 300 species of wild birds, including raptors, in North America since its introduction in New York City in 1999. American Kestrels (Falco sparverius) are susceptible to WNV infection, and the numbers of these birds have declined along the Atlantic coast in recent years. We examined the population biology and WNV exposure of kestrels breeding in the area surrounding Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Kempton, Pennsylvania, USA. The reproductive biology of kestrels in this area was studied from 1992 until 2004. The number of kestrels breeding in nestboxes in 2004 was only 44% of the 6-yr mean observed prior to 1999. During the 2004 nesting season (study period: 8 June through 22 July 2004), adult kestrels were trapped near the site of their nestboxes. Blood samples were obtained, and serum antibodies specific to WNV were quantified using a plaque reduction neutralization test. Of 22 birds tested, 21 exhibited serum antibodies to WNV, suggesting that most (95%) of the adult kestrels in the population had been exposed to WNV.
自1999年西尼罗河病毒（WNV）传入纽约市以来，在北美洲已在包括猛禽在内的近300种野生鸟类中发现了该病毒。美洲隼（Falco sparverius）易受WNV感染，近年来这些鸟类的数量在大西洋沿岸有所下降。我们研究了在美国宾夕法尼亚州肯普顿霍克山保护区周边地区繁殖的美洲隼的种群生物学及WNV暴露情况。1992年至2004年对该地区美洲隼的繁殖生物学进行了研究。2004年在巢箱中繁殖的美洲隼数量仅为1999年之前6年平均数量的44%。在2004年筑巢季节（研究期：2004年6月8日至7月22日），成年美洲隼在其巢箱附近被捕获。采集血样，并使用蚀斑减少中和试验对WNV特异性血清抗体进行定量分析。在接受检测的22只鸟中，21只呈现出WNV血清抗体，这表明该种群中大多数（95%）成年美洲隼已接触过WNV。
