What are the signs of West Nile Virus in horses?
In 1999, 25 New York horses with neurological signs were identified as the first equine cases of WNV infection. These horses presented with signs of ataxia (wobbliness), difficulty walking, knuckling over, head tilt, muscle tremors, and the inability to rise. Of these 25 horses, nine died or were euthanized. The 16 surviving horses all recovered. How do horses become infected with West Nile Virus? The same way people become infected, by the bite of infected mosquitoes. Many horses will develop mild or inapparent infections, but in more susceptible horses, the virus will leave the blood and enter into the brain and spinal cord where its causes inflammation and interferes with normal central nervous system function leading to severe clinical disease or death of the horse. WNV is not transmitted from horse-to-horse, sick horses will not infect healthy ones in neighboring stalls. What is the treatment for a horse infected with West Nile Virus? Treatment would be supportive and customized t
