Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
First horse with neurological West Nile virus in Serbia 2018
By Medić, Strahinja et al.·Published in Acta Veterinaria·2019·“Vetlab” doo, Veterinary laboratory for clinical pathology , Savska 31, Belgrade , Serbia·View original on Crossref →
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Original publication title: Evidence of the first clinical case of equine neuroinvasive West Nile disease in Serbia, 2018
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A Belgian sports mare in Serbia showed signs of neurological issues, including disorientation, weakness, and hypersensitive skin, due to an infection with the West Nile virus. Tests confirmed the presence of antibodies indicating an acute infection, but other blood tests were normal. Fortunately, the mare improved significantly within two weeks, while other horses nearby did not show any symptoms. This case marks the first documented instance of West Nile virus affecting horses in Serbia.
People also search for: horse West Nile virus symptoms · equine neurological issues · treatment for horse disorientation · Belgian mare health problems
Abstract
Abstract During July 2018, the first clinical case of neurological West Nile virus (WNV) infection was reported in a Belgian sports mare in Belgrade, Serbia. Typical symptoms, such as hypersensitive skin reaction, disorientation, weakness, ataxia and the loss of equilibrium were reported. Detection of WNV IgM antibodies by commercial ELISA in the serum samples of the diseased mare strongly indicated acute infection. The ELISA positive results were confirmed by VNT. Hematological and biochemical parameters were in the reference range. The only finding was a minor lymphopenia. WNV RNA was not detected by RT-qPCR in the blood sample extracted seven days after the disease had broken out. The horse improved clinically in two weeks while other horses at the same premises remained asymptomatic. The clinical, serological, biochemical and molecular analyses applied confirmed the first clinical case of neuroinvasive WNV infection in horses in Serbia. The West Nile virus has been circulating in Serbia in the last decade in mosquitoes, birds, and horses, but no evidence of equine WNV clinical cases were registered so far.
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Search related cases →Original publication on Crossref: https://doi.org/10.2478/acve-2019-0009