West Nile Virus in Horses

West Nile Virus in Horses

 

West Nile Virus is a form of encephalomyelitis.  Encephalomyelitis on its own means inflammation of the brain and spinal cord.  West Nile Virus is spread by mosquitos, but the actual reservoir for the virus is birds.  Humans and other mammals are also susceptible to the disease when bitten by an infected mosquito.  People rarely contract the disease from horses or each other because they do not shed enough virus to be contagious to each other.

 

Symptoms of West Nile Virus include fever, depression and loss of appetite.  As the disease progresses the horse will show signs of neurological problems such as weakness, stumbling, head pressing confusion and paralysis.  The disease is very similar to Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis (EEE), but not as severe and more than half of infected horses are able to recover.

 

West Nile Virus is preventable with a vaccine, but the vaccine is very new and researchers are still studying its efficacy.  Mosquito control is another good way to help reduce your horses’ chances of contracting EEE.  Bug sprays, fly sheets, fans, and avoidance of standing water will all help keep mosquitos away from you and your horse.

 

 

 

 

Studies

 

Role of enhanced vector transmission of a new West Nile virus strain in an outbreak of equine disease in Australia in 2011.

 

Importance of wetlands management for West Nile virus circulation risk, Camargue Southern France.

 

The first investigation of West Nile virus in horses using real time RT-PCR in middle Black Sea region in Turkey.

 

Mechanism of West Nile virus neuroinvasion: a critical appraisal.

 

Serological evidence of West Nile virus infection in the horse population of northern Serbia.

 

A review of the epidemiological and clinical aspects of West Nile virus.

 

Limited efficacy of West Nile virus vaccines in large falcons (falco spp).

 

Current trends in West Nile virus vaccine development.