West Nile viral infection of equids.
Vet Microbiol
; 167(1-2): 168-80, 2013 Nov 29.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-24035480
ABSTRACT
West Nile virus (WNV) is a flavivirus transmitted between certain species of birds and mosquito vectors. Tangential infections of equids and subsequent equine epizootics have occurred historically. Although the attack rate has been estimated to be below 10%, mortality rates can approach 50% in horses that present clinical disease. Symptoms are most commonly presenting in the form of encephalitis with ataxia as well as limb weakness, recumbency and muscle fasciculation. The most effective strategy for prevention of equine disease is proper vaccination with one of the numerous commercially available vaccines available in North America or the European Union. Recently, WNV has been increasingly associated with equine epizootics resulting from novel non-lineage-1a viruses in expanding geographic areas. However, specific experimental data on the virulence of these novel virus strains is lacking and questions remain as to the etiology of the expanded epizootics whether it be a function of inherent virulence or ecological and/or climactic factors that could precipitate the altered epidemiological patterns observed.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
West Nile Fever
/
West Nile virus
/
Horse Diseases
Type of study:
Diagnostic_studies
Limits:
Animals
Language:
En
Journal:
Vet Microbiol
Year:
2013
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Germany