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¹ United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, Colorado 80521, USA
² Department of Biomedical Sciences Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, USA
³ Corresponding author (email: larry.clark{at}aphis.usda.gov)

ABSTRACT:   Populations of greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) have declined 45–80% in North America since 1950. Although much of this decline has been attributed to habitat loss, recent field studies have indicated that West Nile virus (WNV) has had a significant negative impact on local populations of grouse. We confirm the susceptibility of greater sage-grouse to WNV infection in laboratory experimental studies. Grouse were challenged by subcutaneous injection of WNV (10^3.2 plaque-forming units [PFUs]). All grouse died within 6 days of infection. The Kaplan-Meier estimate for 50% survival was 4.5 days. Mean peak viremia for nonvaccinated birds was 10^6.4 PFUs/ml (±10^0.2 PFUs/ml, standard error of the mean [SEM]). Virus was shed cloacally and orally. Four of the five vaccinated grouse died, but survival time was increased (50% survival=9.5 days), with 1 grouse surviving to the end-point of the experiment (14 days) with no signs of illness. Mean peak viremia for the vaccinated birds was 10^2.3 PFUs/ml (±10^0.6 PFUs/ml, SEM). Two birds cleared the virus from their blood before death or euthanasia. These data emphasize the high susceptibility of greater sage-grouse to infection with WNV.
  Key words:  Centrocercus urophasianus, experimental infection, greater sage-grouse, vaccine, West Nile virus.

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