West Nile Virus Outbreak Among Horses in New York State, 1999 and 2000
Author Information
Author(s): Susan C. Trock, Barry J. Meade, Amy L. Glaser, Eileen N. Ostlund, Robert S. Lanciotti, Bruce C. Cropp, Varuni Kulasekera, Laura D. Kramer, Nicholas Komar
Primary Institution: Cornell University, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
Hypothesis
How does West Nile virus affect horses and what are the implications for public health?
Conclusion
West Nile virus can cause severe neurological disease in horses, but many cases may go undiagnosed due to nonspecific clinical signs.
Supporting Evidence
- Twenty equine cases of WN virus encephalitis were confirmed in 1999.
- Twenty-three equine cases were identified in 2000.
- Clinical signs included ataxia, weakness, and rear limb incoordination.
- Eight horses died or were euthanized due to severe illness.
- Testing methods included IgM antibody detection and virus neutralization.
Takeaway
West Nile virus can make horses very sick, but sometimes they don't show clear signs of being sick, making it hard to know when they are infected.
Methodology
Investigations included collecting tissue and blood samples from horses with neurologic signs and testing for WN virus.
Limitations
Clinical signs of WN virus in horses are nonspecific, making diagnosis challenging.
Participant Demographics
The study included 20 confirmed equine cases and 5 probable cases, with ages ranging from 2 to 28 years.
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website