TY - JOUR AU - Gancz, Ady Y. AU - Barker, Ian K. AU - Lindsay, Robbin AU - Dibernardo, Antonia AU - McKeever, Katherine AU - Hunter, Bruce T1 - West Nile Virus Outbreak in North American Owls, Ontario, 2002 T2 - Emerging Infectious Disease journal PY - 2004 VL - 10 IS - 12 SP - 2136 SN - 1080-6059 AB - From July to September 2002, an outbreak of West Nile virus (WNV) caused a high number of deaths in captive owls at the Owl Foundation, Vineland, Ontario. Peak death rates occurred in mid-August, and the epidemiologic curve resembled that of corvids in the surrounding Niagara region. The outbreak occurred in the midst of a louse fly (Icosta americana, family Hippoboscidae) infestation. Of the flies tested, 16 (88.9%) of 18 contained WNV RNA. Species with northern native breeding range and birds >1 year of age were at significantly higher risk for WNV-related deaths. Species with northern native breeding range and of medium-to-large body size were at significantly higher risk for exposure to WNV. Taxonomic relations (at the subfamily level) did not significantly affect exposure to WNV or WNV-related deaths. Northern native breeding range and medium-to-large body size were associated with earlier death within the outbreak period. Of the survivors, 69 (75.8%) of 91 were seropositive for WNV. KW - West Nile virus KW - epidemiology KW - owl KW - bird KW - Icosta americana KW - Hippoboscidae KW - Ontario KW - Canada KW - research DO - 10.3201/eid1012.040167 UR - https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/10/12/04-0167_article ER - End of Reference