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West Nile Virus Exposure in Black Bears of Northeastern Wisconsin
Author(s) -
KATZ CHRISTOPHER J.,
ANDERSON SCOTT C.,
HOWE ROBERT W.,
HINICKLE ANDREW R.,
WALISZEWSKI NICOLE T.,
NYE STACY A.,
WUNDERLIN AARON M.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the journal of wildlife management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.94
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1937-2817
pISSN - 0022-541X
DOI - 10.2193/2005-708
Subject(s) - ursus , west nile virus , wildlife , plaque reduction neutralization test , virology , encephalitis , geography , neutralization , virus , biology , zoology , ecology , medicine , environmental health , population
Knowledge of the distribution and pathology of West Nile virus (WNV) in black bears is a necessary tool that allows wildlife managers to implement a management plan, set harvest quotas, and relocate nuisance bears. We studied the presence and significance of WNV titers in free‐roaming black bears ( Ursus americanus ) in northeastern Wisconsin between February 2003 and March 2005. Serum neutralizing antibodies to WNV, with confirmation by plaque‐reduction neutralization test to both WNV and Saint Louis encephalitis, identified exposure in 13 of 74 (17.6%) bears. This compares with a 6% infection rate in black bears in Virginia and 22% in European brown bears ( Ursus arctos ). Pathologic effects from exposure to WNV were not seen in any of the black bears studied.