@article{fdi:010088369,
  title = {{N}ucleic acid preservation card surveillance is effective for monitoring arbovirus transmission on crocodile farms and provides a {O}ne {H}ealth benefit to {N}orthern {A}ustralia},
  author = {{K}urucz, {N}. and {M}c{M}ahon, {J}.{L}. and {W}archot, {A}. and {H}ewitson, {G}. and {B}arcelon, {J}. and {M}oore, {F}. and {M}oran, {J}. and {H}arrison, {J}.{J}. and {C}olmant, {A}gathe and {S}taunton, {K}.{M}. and {R}itchie, {S}.{A}. and {T}ownsend, {M}. and {M}eyer {S}teiger, {D}. and {H}all, {R}.{A}. and {I}sberg, {S}.{R}. and {H}all-{M}endelin, {S}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{T}he {K}unjin strain of {W}est {N}ile virus ({WNVKUN}) is a mosquito-transmitted flavivirus that can infect farmed saltwater crocodiles in {A}ustralia and cause skin lesions that devalue the hides of harvested animals. {W}e implemented a surveillance system using honey-baited nucleic acid preservation cards to monitor {WNVKUN} and another endemic flavivirus pathogen, {M}urray {V}alley encephalitis virus ({MVEV}), on crocodile farms in northern {A}ustralia. {T}he traps were set between {F}ebruary 2018 and {J}uly 2020 on three crocodile farms in {D}arwin ({N}orthern {T}erritory) and one in {C}airns ({N}orth {Q}ueensland) at fortnightly intervals with reduced trapping during the winter months. {WNVKUN} {RNA} was detected on all three crocodile farms near {D}arwin, predominantly



between {M}arch and {M}ay of each year. {T}wo of the {NT} crocodile farms also yielded the detection of {MVE} viral {RNA} sporadically spread between {A}pril and {N}ovember in 2018 and 2020. {I}n contrast, no viral {RNA} was detected on crocodile farms in {C}airns during the entire trapping period. {T}he detection of {WNVKUN} and {MVEV} transmission by {FTATM} cards on farms in the {N}orthern {T}erritory generally correlated with the detection of their transmission to sentinel chicken flocks in nearby localities around {D}arwin as part of a separate public health surveillance program. {W}hile no isolates of {WNVKUN} or {MVEV} were obtained from mosquitoes collected on {D}arwin crocodile farms immediately following the {FTATM} card detections, we did isolate another flavivirus, {K}okobera virus ({KOKV}), from {C}ulex annulirostris mosquitoes. {O}ur studies support the use of the {FTATM} card system as a sensitive and accurate method to monitor the transmission of {WNVKUN} and other arboviruses



on crocodile farms to enable the timely implementation of mosquito control measures. {O}ur detection of {MVEV} transmission and isolation of {KOKV} from mosquitoes also warrants further investigation of their potential role in causing diseases in crocodiles and highlights a '{O}ne {H}ealth' issue concerning arbovirus transmission to crocodile farm workers. {I}n this context, the introduction of {FTA} {TM} cards onto crocodile farms appears to provide an additional surveillance tool to detect arbovirus transmission in the {D}arwin region, allowing for a more timely intervention of vector control by relevant authorities.},
  keywords = {{AUSTRALIE} ; {QUEENSLAND} ; {TERRITOIRE} {DU} {NORD} ; {DARWIN} ; {CAIRNS} {REGION}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{V}iruses},
  volume = {14},
  numero = {6},
  pages = {1342 [14 ]},
  ISSN = {1999-4915},
  year = {2022},
  DOI = {10.3390/v14061342},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010088369},
}