Comparison of chickens and pheasants as sentinels for eastern equine encephalitis and St. Louis encephalitis viruses in Florida.

Pheasants and chickens were compared as sentinels for monitoring the transmission of arboviruses of public health significance in Florida during 1991-93. Results suggest that pheasants are better sentinels for eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus. They detected virus transmission 3-6 weeks earlier in epizootic years, 2-4 times more frequently during the season, and twice as many birds within a flock seroconverted during a given week. Pheasants detected virus transmission at 2 sites during 2 interepizootic years when chickens failed. Although pheasants detected St. Louis encephalitis (SLE) virus activity somewhat later than did chickens, they had greater seroconversion rates than did chickens. Although both bird species can be used to monitor EEE and SLE viruses, pheasants are more sensitive than chickens as sentinels for EEE virus and as sensitive as chickens as sentinels for SLE virus.

Leadership. Nature and nurture.

It takes the right person, willing to do the right thing, to be a leader who transforms relationships into partnerships, plans into actions, and opportunities into achievements. In this excerpt from the book Transformational Leadership, the authors delineate 13 of the characteristics and values attributed to true change-producing leaders.

Changes in life goals as related to success in a nursing leadership role.

Based on questionnaire returns from 50 nurses in leadership positions, this study revealed major differences in the life goals of successful nurses before and after assuming a leadership role. Our reason for success, the study found, was the nurses' ability to develop life goals consistent with their leadership role.