Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Emergence of West Nile virus lineage 2 in Europe: Characteristics of the first seven cases of West Nile neuroinvasive disease in horses in Austria.
- Journal:
- Transboundary and emerging diseases
- Year:
- 2020
- Authors:
- de Heus, Phebe et al.
- Affiliation:
- University Equine Hospital
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
In Austria, seven horses were diagnosed with West Nile neuroinvasive disease, a serious condition caused by the West Nile virus. These cases occurred over the summers and autumns of 2016, 2017, and 2018. All the affected horses had trouble walking, and most showed muscle twitching or shaking, with some also having issues with their cranial nerves. While three horses improved and were sent home, four had to be euthanized because their symptoms were too severe. Testing confirmed the presence of the virus in five horses, and all seven had antibodies indicating they had been infected. This situation highlights how horses can help us understand and monitor West Nile virus risks for humans.
Abstract
We report details of the first seven equine cases of confirmed West Nile neuroinvasive disease in Austria. The cases presented during summer and autumn of 2016 (n = 2), 2017 (n = 3) and 2018 (n = 2). All horses showed gait abnormalities and 6 of 7 horses exhibited fasciculations and/or tremors, and we provide video recordings of these. Three horses also showed cranial nerve involvement. Following rapid improvement, three horses were discharged. Four horses were euthanized due to the severity of clinical signs and subjected to neuropathological examination. West Nile virus (WNV) lineage 2 nucleic acid was detected in 5 of 7 horses, and WNV-specific neutralizing antibodies in all 7 horses. In addition, serologic evidence of WNV infection was found in two out of fourteen in-contact horses. Horses may be considered a sentinel species for human WNV infections, integrating human and veterinary medicine and thus contributing to the one health concept.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31840920/