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A Protective Role for Avian Diversity in the United States West Nile Virus Epidemic

Reference Type
Conference Proceedings (Chapter)

"In 1999, a mosquito-borne flavivirus called West Nile Virus (WNV) entered the U.S.A. and in five years has swept across the continent causing over 14,000 diagnosed human cases.  An established paradigm in the ecology of WNV is that human incidence is higher in urban areas due to high abundances of vector competent mosquitoes in these areas.  An alternative explanation is that the diversity and community composition of birds may determine WNV incidence, as several North American bird species that are tolerant of human disturbance have been implicated as highly competent reservoirs for WNV.  Factors that reduce bird diversity are likely to increase the incidence of WNV by increasing the proportion of vector blood-meals taken from reservoir competent bird species, consistent with a hypothesis known as the dilution effect.  Thus we hypothesized that human incidence of WNV is negatively related to bird diversity.  We established three, 64 kilometer-long transects originating in the urban center of St. Louis and extending to the south and west into the Missouri Ozarks.  Along each transect we established five sampling sites in forested areas approximately 16 kilometers apart.  At each site we measured bird and mosquito community composition and infection rate in mosquitoes.  Our results support both the established paradigm that there is higher vector abundance in urban areas and the novel hypothesis that low bird diversity contributes to high incidence of WNV.  These data suggest that an important service to humans of biodiversity is the dilution of disease risk." [Abstract from Conference Program and Book of Abstracts]

[Concurrent Session I-F: Human Health Issues]

[Presented at "Emerging Issues Along Urban/Rural Interfaces: Linking Science and Society", a conference held March 13-16, 2005 in Atlanta, GA (US)]

Authors
B.F. Allan, W.A. Ryberg, R. Katz, N. Griffin, R.B. Langerhans, K.N. Smyth, B. Oberle, M. Schutzenhofer, W.J. Landesman, K.R. Crooks, R.S. Ostfeld, J.M. Chase
Date Published
2005
Journal/Conference
Emerging Issues Along Urban/Rural Interfaces: Linking Science and Society
Editor
D. Laband, et. al.
Publisher
Auburn University Center for Forest Sustainability
Publisher Location
Auburn, AL (US)
Sub-Topics
Interface, Health (human), Wildlife (avian)
State(s)/Region(s)
Missouri
Keywords
Urban-rural, West Nile virus, Leaf characteristics, WNV, Interface, WUI
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