Vaccination of Andean and California Condors with a West Nile Virus DNA Vaccine

1. Vaccination of Andean and California Condors with a West Nile Virus DNA Vaccine Cynthia E. Stringfield, D.V.M., The Los Angeles Zoo Brent S. Davis and Gwong-Jen Chang, Ph.D., Centers for Disease Control

3. Current Status of California Condor Population Three breeding facilities with total of 138 birds Four release sites with total of 85 birds in the wild Thirty new chicks this year - 2 in wild Total population 223

4. West Nile Virus History Flaviviridae Endemic to Africa, Eurasia, Middle East Arthropod (mosquito) transmitted First hit W. Hemisphere August 1999 in NYC Birds are primary amplifying host Species and immune status differences Humans (?), horses and others are incidental hosts 2002 was a bad year!

6. Symptoms Horses: ataxia, weakness of limbs, recumbancy, muscle fasiculations Birds: Tremors/seizures, disorientation, decreased appetite, weight loss, difficulty swallowing, closing an eye, anisocoria, losing feathers, bright green feces, respiratory problems Humans: flu-like symptoms or none

7. Diagnosis and Treatment Clinical signs Serology: IgM and IgG level in blood PCR: blood or tissue, feces Virus Isolation: tissue, feces Diagnosis can be challenging Treatment is supportive care and for secondary problems only

8. Why Worry About Condors? It’s coming our way Species susceptibility Two cases seen in Andean Condors in New York Endangered Species - still very limited numbers

9. Prevention Mosquito control! Eliminate stagnant water, use mosquito-eating fish in ponds, insecticides Decrease exposure: tight screens, decrease time outdoors May-October from dusk to dawn, insect repellant Vaccination

10. Vaccines Fort Dodge Equine vaccine: Inactivated, tissue culture virus in oil (Metastim) adjuvant Experimental DNA plasmid vaccine in Aluminum phosphate adjuvant

11. Vaccine studies Israel studies Cockatiel study Zoo study: Black-footed and Little blue penguins, American and Chilean flamingos, Attwater’s Prairie Chickens Psittacines Cranes CDC crows/CA Condor study Analysis of zoo serology (Bronx)

12. DNA plasmid vaccine Developed by Dr. Chang’s group at the CDC Recombinant DNA plasmid Vaccine manufactured and donated by a private company, Aldevron Vaccine material formulated with aluminum phosphate adjuvant by CDC Cooperative research study

13. Vaccination Protocol Two vaccines 21 days apart Serology at 0, 21, and 60 days Tested first in 4 Andean Condors for safety reasons Then moved on to the captive California Condor populations at the Los Angeles Zoo and San Diego Wild Animal Park

14. Herculean Task Over 100 captures and handling Logistics of heading into breeding season Chicks being prepared for release: behavioral considerations

15. Data from The Los Angeles Zoo: 36 birds No adverse reactions Final serology data still pending and under analysis Preliminary Results: Excellent (hopefully) protective titers

16. Moving on to the Rest of the Population World Center for Birds of Prey in Boise Free-flying Birds: Grand Canyon, Arizona, Central California, Southern California Pre-Release Birds: Baja California Total of number of birds vaccinated: 190 This year’s chicks are next: 30

17. More Data Collection and Analysis/Future Plans Other institutions with captive birds Chicks: Response and when to vaccinate Wild Chicks: Should we, can we, and how to vaccinate Longevity of Immunity Vaccination put to the test as WNV comes our way

18. What About the Rest of Us? Not commercially available YET I didn’t get to use it on my zoo birds either Trial in progress in Red-tail hawks and Sandhill cranes Politics and money: trying to get a commercial product for birds Perhaps an equine product by next Spring

19. THANK YOU! Drs. Bunning and Komar, CDC Dr. Branson Ritchie Dr. Pat Redig Patti Bright, American Bird Conservancy Michael Chambers, Aldevron L.A. Zoo Staff CCRT