Rapid antigen-capture assay to detect West Nile virus in dead corvids

The utility of the VecTest antigen-capture assay to detect West Nile virus (WNV) in field-collected dead corvids was evaluated in Manitoba and Ontario, Canada, in 2001 and 2002. Swabs were taken from the oropharynx, cloaca, or both of 109 American Crows, 31 Blue Jays, 6 Common Ravens, and 4 Black-billed Magpies from Manitoba, and 255 American Crows and 28 Blue Jays from Ontario. The sensitivity and specificity of the antigen-capture assay were greatest for samples from American Crows; oropharyngeal swabs were more sensitive than cloacal swabs, and interlaboratory variation in the results was minimal. The sensitivity and specificity of the VecTest using oropharyngeal swabs from crows were 83.9% and 93.6%, respectively, for Manitoba samples and 83.3% and 95.8%, respectively, for Ontario birds. The VecTest antigen-capture assay on oropharyngeal secretions from crows is a reliable and rapid diagnostic test that appears suitable for incorporation into a WNV surveillance program.

The occupation of gardening in life-threatening illness: a qualitative pilot project

This qualitative pilot study was completed as an exploratory study of the meaning of gardening using attention restoration theory. Three women with breast cancer who garden for leisure were recruited from a cancer support group. Each participant was interviewed at her home on two occasions. To complement the qualitative data, participants also completed the Perceived Restorativeness Scale (PRS) (Hartig, Korpela, Evans, & Garling, 1996). The interviews revealed six major themes some of which were concerned with the interactions between the gardener and the garden, and others which focused on gardening within the context of having cancer. The qualitative and quantitative outcomes supported the perspective of attention restoration theory. Spirituality was interwoven throughout the comments of two participants but was less important for one participant. The implications of this study for practice and future research are discussed.