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West Nile virus isolated from Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) in Northwest Missouri 2012

Bosco-Lauth, Angela; Harmon, Jessica; Lash, R.R.; Weiss, Sonja; Langevin, Stanley; Savage, Harry; Godsey Jr., Marvin S.; Burkhalter, Kristen; Root, J.J.; Gidlewski, Thomas; Nicholson, William; Brault, Aaron C.; Komar, Nicholas

We describe the isolation of West Nile virus (WNV; Flaviviridae, flavivirus) from blood of a Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) collected in northwestern Missouri, USA in August 2012. Furthermore, sequencing determined that the virus was related to lineage 1a WNV02 strains. We discuss the role of wildlife in WNV disease epidemiology.