Detection of West Nile virus and Tick-borne encephalitis virus in birds in Slovakia with universal primer set

Archives of Virology

Csank Tomáš, Bhide Katarína, Bencúrová Elena, Dolinská Saskia, Drzewnioková Petra, Major Peter, Korytár Ľuboš, Bocková Eva, Bhide Mangesh and Pistl Juraj

Corresponding author: Prof., MVDr. Juraj Pistl, PhD., Department of microbiology and immunology; University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, E-mail:

Online Resource 2A Description of mist netting localities and bird species caught and tested for flavivirus RNA

Drienovec (Košice County; 48°36'N 20°54'E) bird ringing station is located near the village of Drienovec in South-eastern Slovakia on the border of the National Park Slovak Karst and the Košická Basin. The study area of 7.7 hectares is covered by oak forest, xerotermic shrub vegetation, reedbeds and willow shrubs.

Zemplínska Teplica (Trebišov County; 48°38'N 21°35'E), the sampled birds have been caught on a dairy farm near the village of Zemplínska Teplica. The landscape around the farm is made up of a mosaic consisting of monocultures, permanent grasslands, vineyards and rows of trees.

Zajačia Valley (Levice County; 48°13'N 18°39'E) is located near the village Malé Krškany in Western Slovakia. Ornithological mist-nets have been installed in the proximity of horse farm on the pasture.

Birds species / Number of caught birds tested for flavivirus RNA
Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) / 17
Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) / 1
Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita) / 4
Common Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos) / 1
Common Whitethroat (Sylvia communis) / 1
Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula) / 4
Eurasian Great Tit (Parus major) / 7
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) / 29
European Greenfinch (Chloris chloris) / 10
European Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca) / 2
European Robin (Erithacus rubecula) / 3
Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes) / 2
Hedge Accentor (Prunella modularis) / 3
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) / 16
Lesser Whitethroat (Sylvia curruca) / 1
Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) / 1
Siberian Nuthatch (Sitta europea) / 1
Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos) / 1
Thrush Nightingale (Luscinia luscinia) / 1
Western Marsh-Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) / 1
Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus) / 3
Wood Warbler (Phylloscopus sibilatrix) / 1
Total / 110

Online Resource 2B Bird brain samples tested for flavivirus RNA

Bird species / Number of bird brains tested for flavivirus RNA
Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) / 4
Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) / 11
Common Raven (Corvus corax) / 8
Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula) / 2
Eurasian Eagle-Owl (Bubo bubo) / 1
Eurasian Great Tit (Parus major) / 1
Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius) / 1
Eurasian Magpie (Pica pica) / 1
Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) / 2
Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris) / 3
Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) / 1
Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes) / 1
Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) / 1
Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) / 2
Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug) / 1
Tawny Owl (Strix aluco) / 1
Ural Owl (Strix uralensis) / 1
Western Marsh-Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) / 3
Total / 45