Utilizing hunter harvest effort to survey for wildlife disease: a case study of West Nile virus in greater sage-grouse
Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; sage-grouse) are highly susceptible to infection with West Nile virus (WNV), with substantial mortality reported in wild populations and in experimentally infected birds. Although sage-grouse are hunted throughout much of their range, they have also recently been considered for protection under the Endangered Species Act. We used blood samples collected on filter-paper strips during the 2006–2010 Oregon, USA, annual sage-grouse hunt to survey for specific WNV-neutralizing antibodies that indicate a previous infection with WNV. During this period, hunters submitted 1,880 blood samples from sage-grouse they harvested. Samples obtained were proportional for all 12 Oregon sage-grouse hunting units. Laboratory testing of 1,839 samples by the WNV epitope-blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (bELISA) followed by plaque reduction neutralization test on bELISA-positive samples yielded 19 (1%) and 1 (0.05%) positive samples, respectively. These data provided early baseline information for future comparisons regarding the prevalence of WNV-specific neutralizing antibodies in sage-grouse in Oregon. This methodology may provide other states where sage-grouse (or other species) populations are hunted and where WNV constitutes a species conservation concern with a viable option to track the relative prevalence of the virus in populations.
Citation Information
Publication Year | 2014 |
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Title | Utilizing hunter harvest effort to survey for wildlife disease: a case study of West Nile virus in greater sage-grouse |
DOI | 10.1002/wsb.472 |
Authors | Robert J. Dusek, Christian A. Hagen, J. Christian Franson, David A. Budeau, Erik K. Hofmeister |
Publication Type | Article |
Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
Series Title | Wildlife Society Bulletin |
Index ID | 70123544 |
Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
USGS Organization | National Wildlife Health Center; Contaminant Biology Program |