Climate and landscape drivers of a mosquito-borne pathogen in an iconic game bird in the eastern and upper midwestern USA.

ABSTRACT: The ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus) is a non-migratory upland game bird that inhabits young and mature forests in the USA and Canada. Population indices in some portions of its range, particularly the eastern USA, have been in decline since the arrival of West Nile virus (WNV), a mosquito-borne Flavivirus. Subsequent experimental research suggested that WNV may cause morbidity and/or mortality in up to 90% of grouse, which had similar clinicopathologic findings to naturally-infected grouse. Additionally, WNV serosurveys in Pennsylvania revealed low seroprevalence concurrent with elevated vector indices. To further elucidate aspects of WNV epidemiology in ruffed grouse, we tested hunter-collected filter paper strips for anti-WNV antibodies in 15 states during fall-winter, 2018-2022. Annual

SUBMITTER: Kunkel MR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12475392 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature