Antibody response in ardeid birds following experimental infection with Japanese encephalitis virus
Rodrigues, F.M.; Soman, R.S.; Guttikar, S.N.; Pinto, B.D.
Indian Journal of Medical Research 73: 667-672
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-5340 PMID: 6266951 Document Number: 175657
Thirteen wild birds belonging to the family Ardeidae, i.e., 3 Bubulcus ibis (cattle egret), 5 Ardeola grayii (pond heron) and 5 Egretta garzetta (little egret), which were inoculated with Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus in experimental viremia and transmission studies were subsequently held for several weeks and serum samples were obtained periodically to study the antibody response. Two of the 3 Bubulcus ibis and all 5 Ardeola grayii developed hemagglutination inhibiting (HI) and neutralizing antibodies to JE virus. Neutralizing antibody persisted in all 7 birds and HI antibody persisted in 6 of the 7 birds for 15-18 wk postinoculation (PI), except for 2 birds which died shortly after the 4 and 6 wk PI, respectively. HI antibody persisted in 4 of the 5 birds which survived 15-18 wk PI, but the antibody titer decreased .gtoreq. 4-fold in 3 birds. In the remaining bird, the antibody could not be detected beyond the 8th wk PI. The specificity of the neutralizing antibody to JE virus found in naturally infected ardeid birds in India indicates that these birds are involved in the natural cycle of JE virus in India.