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Case Reports
. 2011 Aug;17(8):1531-3.
doi: 10.3201/eid1708.101979.

West Nile virus infection in killer whale, Texas, USA, 2007

Judy St Leger  1 , Guang Wu, Mark Anderson, Les Dalton, Erika Nilson, David Wang
Affiliations
Case Reports

West Nile virus infection in killer whale, Texas, USA, 2007

Judy St Leger et al. Emerg Infect Dis. 2011 Aug.

Abstract

In 2007, nonsuppurative encephalitis was identified in a killer whale at a Texas, USA, marine park. Panviral DNA microarray of brain tissue suggested West Nile virus (WNV); WNV was confirmed by reverse transcription PCR and sequencing. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated WNV antigen within neurons. WNV should be considered in cases of encephalitis in cetaceans.

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Figures

Figure
Figure
Brain specimen from killer whale (Orcinus orca) with West Nile virus infection that died at a marine park, San Antonio, Texas, USA, 2007. Neurons and glial cells demonstrate abundant intracytoplasmic West Nile viras antigen. Blood vessel demonstrates mild vasculitis and perivascular lymphocytic infiltrate. Original magnification ×200.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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