Encephalitis in Midwest IX. Neutralizing Antibodies in Wild Birds of Midwestern States

Abstract
Serum surveys for St. Louis and Western Equine Encephalitis (WEE) neutralizing antibodies in migratory and resident wild birds in midwestern states during 1949 showed 11.6% of birds with positive WEE neutralizing antibodies in Kansas and Missouri area where little or no encephalitis occurred. This is compared with a survey in Colorado during 1949 following a small WEE epidemic when the sera of 25% of resident wild birds showed positive WEE neutralizing antibodies.