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From: "ProMED-mail" <promed at promed.isid.harvard.edu>
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Sent: Wednesday, September 25, 2002 2:34 PM
Subject: PRO/AH/EDR> West Nile virus, hippoboscid flies - USA (PA)


>
> WEST NILE VIRUS, HIPPOBOSCID FLIES - USA (PA)
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> [1]
> Date: Tue 24 Sep 2002
> From: John P. Maher <jmaher at chesco.org>
>
> Louse Flies (_Hippoboscidae_) Test Positive for West Nile Virus
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
> A pool of Hippoboscid flies has tested positive for West Nile virus in
> Dauphin Co (Pennsylvania). These flies are also called louse flies and are
> ectoparasites on birds and mammals. We have no idea regarding the
> importance of these insects because no work has been done with respect to
> Hippoboscid vector competence for West Nile virus. If they are capable of
> vectoring West Nile virus, they could be very important enzootic vectors
in
> the wild in roosting areas and among nest mates. Birds in captivity, such
> as those in zoos and bird rehab centers, could also be disproportionately
> affected. The flies were collected from a symptomatic Great horned owl.
>
> --
> John P. Maher
> <jmaher at chesco.org>
>
> ******
> [2]
> Date: 25 Sep 2002
> From: Hutchinson, Michael <mhutchinso at state.pa.us>
>
> [In response to a query for additional information on the identification
of
> West Nile virus in hippoboscidae, Michael Hutchinson was kind enough to
> send the following. - Mod.MPP]
>
> Thank you for your question about the positive louse flies. We have sent
3
> pools of Hippoboscidae for West Nile virus testing. The first pool of 5-6
> specimens was taken from a Red Tail (RT) hawk that tested positive for
WN -
> that pool tested negative. The second pool contained 5 specimens that
were
> collected from a symptomatic Great Horned (GH) owl. That is the pool that
> tested positive through PCR as well as through virus isolation, indicated
> the presence of live virus. This is not surprising in that the specimens
> were visibly blooded. The results from a 3rd pool of non-blooded
specimens
> are still pending. Future submissions of Hippoboscids from symptomatic
> birds will be held in the lab for 7-10 days to try to ensure complete
> digestion of the blood meal. Positive results from non-blooded insects
> will give us a better idea if the virus can survive within the louse
> flies. We will still be in need of vector competency studies to nail down
> the importance, or lack thereof, of this group. As for the question about
> the identity if the flies, they are in the genus Icosta and I'm waiting on
> literature to provide a species level identification. There are about 8
> species in North America and they are bird biters.
>
> Michael L. Hutchinson
> Biologist - West Nile Virus Program
> PA Department of Environmental Protection
> <mhutchinso at state.pa.us>
> .................dk/cp/pg/dk/mpp
>
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