SENTINEL FLOCK SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM

North Carolina, through the office of Public Health Pest Management has maintained sentinel flocks for over 10 years and has found them to be a useful tool to monitor for the presence of mosquito borne pathogens. The Public Health Pest Management Section was abolished by the 2011 legislature and the future of the program is uncertain.

General Information:

Chickens are useful monitors for the presence of virus in the mosquito population. Chickens have the ability to produce antibodies to several mosquito borne viruses and it is these antibodies that are detected by laboratory tests. Although initial set-up can be costly, sentinel flocks are a cost-efficient method of monitoring for the presence of certain viruses. Each flock consists of 5 hens in specially designed cages that protect the animals from the elements while leaving them accessible to mosquitoes. Cages have automatic waterers and a local caretaker ensures that the hens are fed. A small drop of blood is collected from the comb of the bird every two weeks onto filter paper.  The sample is then eluted from the paper filter and sent to the State Lab for testing.

For More Information:

Links to Flock Data