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. 2004 Feb;45(2):117-23.

An outbreak of West Nile virus-associated disease in domestic geese (Anser anser domesticus) upon initial introduction to a geographic region, with evidence of bird to bird transmission

Ronald J Austin  1 , Terry L Whiting, Robert A Anderson, Michael A Drebot
Affiliations

An outbreak of West Nile virus-associated disease in domestic geese (Anser anser domesticus) upon initial introduction to a geographic region, with evidence of bird to bird transmission

Ronald J Austin et al. Can Vet J. 2004 Feb.

Abstract
in English, French

West Nile virus activity in Manitoba was documented for the first time by the collection of an infected crow found on July 8, 2002, in Winnipeg. West Nile virus was identified as the cause of death for a large number of domestic geese at a single farm in southern Manitoba in August. Of the 5 differently aged cohorts on the affected farm, which included 2 breeding flocks and 3 growing flocks, the 6-week-old cohort was most severely affected with 692 of 2731 goslings dying within a 10-day period. Seroprevalence of West Nile virus in 2 clinically affected and recovered juvenile cohorts was 98% and 100%. In breeding geese without clinical disease, seroprevalence was 90% for 15-month-old birds and 10% for 5-year-old birds. Seroreaction in 3 of 4 cohorts tested exceeded what would be expected by mosquito transmission alone.

Résumé — Flambée de la maladie causée par le virus du Nil occidental chez l’oie domestique ( Anser anser domesticus Anser anser domesticus ) lors de sa première apparition dans une nouvelle région géographique, avec indication de transmission d’oiseau à oiseau. L’apparition au Manitoba du virus du Nil occidental a été rapportée pour la première fois à la suite de la récupération d’une corneille infectée le 8 juillet 2002 à Winnipeg. En août, le virus du Nil occidental a été reconnu comme étant la cause de la mort d’un grand nombre d’oies domestiques d’une même ferme du sud du Manitoba. Des 5 cohortes d’âges différents de la ferme affectée, dont 2 troupeaux reproducteurs et 3 d’engraissement, la cohorte âgée de 6 semaines a été le plus durement touchée : 692 des 2731 oisons sont morts en 10 jours. La séroprévalence du virus du Nil occidental dans les 2 autres troupeaux d’engraissement affectés, mais qui se sont rétablis, était de 98 et 100 %. Chez les oies de reproduction sans signes cliniques, la séroprévalence était de 90 % pour les oiseaux de 15 mois et 10 % chez ceux de 5 ans. La séroréaction chez 3 des 4 cohortes testées était plus intense qu’attendue pour une transmission par moustiques uniquement.

(Traduit par Docteur André Blouin)

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Topographical representation of the layout of the premises where West Nile virus (WNV) was identified in geese. Diagram is not precisely to scale and some small outbuildings are not shown. Buildings appear in shading; outdoor pens for holding growing and breeding geese appear as open rectangles. Approximate dimensions of pens are given with the cohort of birds that were present in that pen on September 5. Breeding 1 (B 1) and B 2 are the location of breeding flocks, and cohort 1, 2, and 3 are the location of the 3 growing cohorts, in order of decreasing age. This image was redrawn from an orthographical photograph taken 09/95, Manitoba Agriculture and Food, Agri-Map Services, and confirmed in consultation with the farm manager.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Time line of death loss and inventory change for the 3 growing cohorts of geese on the premises. Bars are death loss per week on the right axis, line is decreasing inventory left axis. X-axis is the chronological week of 2002. Green bar and line is cohort 1 hatched April 15, black bar and line is cohort 2 hatched May 27, and red line and bar is cohort 3 hatched July 15, 2002. Cohort 3 was not released from the barn until 3-wk of age and death loss during the week ending July 27 may not be attributable to West Nile virus (WNV) infection.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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