Experimental infection and serologic survey for selected paramyxoviruses in red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus).

Red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) were experimentally exposed to three avian paramyxoviruses: turkey parainfluenza virus, Yucaipa virus, and two strains of Newcastle disease virus. Aerosol exposure resulted in infection but exposure in food or drinking water rarely or never did. Tracheal swabs contained virus for up to eight days post exposure, cloacal swabs were negative. Transmission to contact birds occurred infrequently. Antibody response was of low titer and short duration. No hemagglutination inhibition activity against these viruses was found in 387 sera collected from red-winged blackbirds and tricolored blackbirds (Agelaius tricolor) trapped in six states.