Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Susceptibility Of Greater Sage-Grouse To Experimental Infection With West Nile Virus, Larry Clark, Jeffrey Hall, Robert Mclean, Michael Dunbar, Kaci Klenk, Richard Bowen, Cynthia A. Smeraski

USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Populations of greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) have declined 45– 80% in North America since 1950. Although much of this decline has been attributed to habitat loss, recent field studies have indicated that West Nile virus (WNV) has had a significant negative impact on local populations of grouse. We confirm the susceptibility of greater sage-grouse to WNV infection in laboratory experimental studies. Grouse were challenged by subcutaneous injection of WNV (103.2 plaque-forming units [PFUs]). All grouse died within 6 days of infection. The Kaplan-Meier estimate for 50% survival was 4.5 days. Mean peak viremia for nonvaccinated birds was 106.4 PFUs/ml (6100.2 …