Publications

rapid antigen-capture assay to detect west nile virus in dead corvids.	the utility of the vectest antigen-capture assay to detect west nile virus (wnv) in field-collected dead corvids was evaluated in manitoba and ontario, canada, in 2001 and 2002. swabs were taken from the oropharynx, cloaca, or both of 109 american crows, 31 blue jays, 6 common ravens, and 4 black-billed magpies from manitoba, and 255 american crows and 28 blue jays from ontario. the sensitivity and specificity of the antigen-capture assay were greatest for samples from american crows; oropharyng ...	2003	14718083
an outbreak of west nile virus-associated disease in domestic geese (anser anser domesticus) upon initial introduction to a geographic region, with evidence of bird to bird transmission.	west nile virus activity in manitoba was documented for the first time by the collection of an infected crow found on july 8, 2002, in winnipeg. west nile virus was identified as the cause of death for a large number of domestic geese at a single farm in southern manitoba in august. of the 5 differently aged cohorts on the affected farm, which included 2 breeding flocks and 3 growing flocks, the 6-week-old cohort was most severely affected with 692 of 2731 goslings dying within a 10-day period. ...	2004	15025147
development of three additional culex species-specific polymerase chain reaction primers and their application in west nile virus surveillance in canada.	in 2002, more than 17,000 mosquito pools collected in canada (quebec, ontario, and manitoba) were tested at the national microbiology laboratory in winnipeg, manitoba, for infection with west nile virus (wnv). using real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (rt-pcr), 558 mosquito pools (86% culex species and 14% other species) had evidence of infection with wnv. only 30% of the culex specimens, however, were identified to the species level. in this study, culex species-specific p ...	2010	20402349
modeling monthly variation of culex tarsalis (diptera: culicidae) abundance and west nile virus infection rate in the canadian prairies.	the canadian prairie provinces of alberta, saskatchewan, and manitoba have generally reported the highest human incidence of west nile virus (wnv) in canada. in this study, environmental and biotic factors were used to predict numbers of culex tarsalis coquillett, which is the primary mosquito vector of wnv in this region, and prevalence of wnv infection in cx. tarsalis in the canadian prairies. the results showed that higher mean temperature and elevated time lagged mean temperature were associ ...	2013	23880728
climate change and west nile virus in a highly endemic region of north america.	the canadian prairie provinces of manitoba, saskatchewan, and alberta have reported the highest human incidence of clinical cases of west nile virus (wnv) infection in canada. the primary vector for wvn in this region is the mosquito culex tarsalis. this study used constructed models and biological thresholds to predict the spatial and temporal distribution of cx. tarsalis and wnv infection rate in the prairie provinces under a range of potential future climate and habitat conditions. we selecte ...	2013	23880729
ecological determinants of avian influenza virus, west nile virus, and avian paramyxovirus infection and antibody status in blue-winged teal (anas discors) in the canadian prairies.	the canadian prairies are one of the most important breeding and staging areas for migratory waterfowl in north america. hundreds of thousands of waterfowl of numerous species from multiple flyways converge in and disperse from this region annually; therefore this region may be a key area for potential intra- and interspecific spread of infectious pathogens among migratory waterfowl in the americas. using blue-winged teal (anas discors, bwte), which have the most extensive migratory range among ...	2016	26540179