Cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo, Pelecaniformes) caught in southern Moravia (Czech Republic) in 1989-1990 were examined for arbovirus infections. Isolation experiments were carried out using blood samples of 56 birds. The results were negative. Serological examinations of 31 birds were performed by haemagglutination-inhibition test (HIT) using 5 arboviral antigens of the genera Alphavirus (Sindbis--SIN) and Flavivirus (tick-borne encephalitis--TBE, West Nile--WN) and of the family Bunyaviridae (Tahyna--TAH, Calovo--CVO). Antibodies were detected only to viruses SIN, WN and TAH at different frequencies: 9.7%, 9.7% and 22.6%. The titres ranged from 1:20 to 1:80.

Ustav systematické a ekologické biologie AV CR Brno

History of Arbovirus Research in the Czech Republic

West Nile fever--a reemerging mosquito-borne viral disease in Europe