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Volume 28, Number 7—July 2022
Research

Effect of Agroecosystems on Seroprevalence of St. Louis Encephalitis and West Nile Viruses in Birds, La Pampa, Argentina, 2017–2019

Ana P. Mansilla, Juan M. Grande, and Adrián DiazComments to Author 
Author affiliations: Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina (A. P. Mansilla, J. M. Grande, A. Diaz); Universidad Nacional de La Pampa, Santa Rosa, Argentina (A. P. Mansilla, J. M. Grande); Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina (A. Diaz)

Main Article

Table 1

Models proposed to analyze the association between environmental and biological variables and SLEV/WNV seroprevalence in birds*

Model no.† Variables Biological justification
1/9
Null model
The environmental and biological variables considered in this study do not explain the SLEV/WNV seroprevalence.
2/10
Distance to water body
The water bodies are favorable habitats for the development of immature mosquitoes, especially of the genus Culex, for which a greater abundance of potential mosquito vectors will be generated in these sites. Also, birds use these sites for drinking, facilitating the encounter between hosts and vectors.
3/11
Agricultural area
Places with a homogeneous agricultural matrix will have impoverished biological communities dominated by birds of a few species, such as eared doves (Zenaida auriculata) and Picui ground doves (Columbina picui) with the potential to amplify viruses.
4/12
Distance to urban site
Peri-urban areas present better conditions for the establishment of different Culex mosquito species, generating a greater abundance of potential vectors.
5/13
Dove abundance
Host competence assays identified columbiform species as the main amplifying hosts for SLEV and WNV in Argentina, so a greater abundance of these species will produce greater virus circulation in those sites.
6/14
Sparrow abundance
House sparrow populations in Córdoba Province were not very efficient at amplifying SLEV, so a higher abundance of birds of this species would generate a viral dilution effect at the sites.
7/15
Agricultural area + dove abundance
Doves have a high capacity to amplify SLEV and WNV and are very abundant in disturbed environments occupied by crops and pastures, providing greater virus circulation in those places.
8/16 Distance to water body + agricultural area Places that have larger agricultural areas and are closer to water bodies will have impoverished biological communities dominated by eared doves and Picui ground doves and high mosquito abundance.

*SLEV, St. Louis encephalitis virus; WNV, West Nile virus. †Models 1–8 correspond to those proposed for SLEV and 9–16 correspond to those proposed for WNV.

Main Article

Page created: June 01, 2022
Page updated: June 18, 2022
Page reviewed: June 18, 2022
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