Abstract
Although birds are the primary reservoirs for West Nile virus (WNV), some birds are more competent reservoirs for the virus than others, and WNV susceptibility widely among bird species. The reasons for the wide range of susceptibility that exists in the bird community are largely unknown, although it has been hypothesized that the ability to mount a robust neutralizing antibody response to WNV infection is likely correlated with disease resistance. However, most susceptible birds die of WNV infection within the first week, before a measurable antibody response has been mounted. Therefore, we are exploring the involvement of the innate immune system in avian susceptibility to WNV. One particularly important aspect of the innate immune system are phagocytic cells which are responsible for engulfing foreign particles and pathogens. However, little is known about the role of phagocytic cells in an animal's immune response to WNV infection. For my research, I developed an assay to measure the phagocytic activity in avian macrophages, monocytes and heterophils.