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  African greys are not immune to West Nile Virus We were told by a university veterinary medical department that because our parrot is an African grey, he has a built-in immunity to West Nile Virus. Can this be true? -- Bob Burrows, b.burrows@shaw.ca SOME SPECIES of birds are very susceptible to West Nile Virus, some are only moderately vulnerable, and some may be completely unaffected (at least until the virus mutates). Parrots, including African greys, fall into the second category; overall, they seem to have only a slight risk of contracting West Nile Virus, unlike crows and birds of prey, which are extremely susceptible. But do African greys enjoy any special protection because they are African greys? No. The only way any creature develops an immunity to a disease is by coming into contact with it and producing antibodies that fight it. We know from the presence of these antibodies that the individual has been exposed to a particular disease. West Nile Virus, spread by mosquitoes, also can sicken humans and horses. So far there is a vaccine available only for horses, but researchers are working on vaccines for people and birds. To read more about the avian vaccine underway, check back in the November-December 2004 issue of ParrotChronicles.com. ParrotChronicles.com ------- 
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