Kentucky Reports Fourth Equine WNV Case of 2014

The unvaccinated 10-year-old Quarter Horse gelding from Allen County is recovering.
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The Kentucky State Veterinarian's office has announced that an Allen County horse has tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV), the fourth confirmed case in the commonwealth this year.

In a statement Kentucky Equine Programs manager E.S. "Rusty" Ford relayed that the unvaccinated 10-year-old Quarter Horse gelding presented with a fever and mild hind limb ataxia on Oct. 26. The horse's condition improved over the next three days, and he continues to recover.

Twelve WNV cases were reported last year in Kentucky horses.

West Nile is transmitted to horses via bites from infected mosquitoes. Clinical signs for WNV include flulike signs, where the horse seems mildly anorexic and depressed; fine and coarse muscle and skin fasciculations (twitching); hyperesthesia (hypersensitivity to touch and sound); changes in mentation (mentality), when horses look like they are daydreaming or "just not with it"; occasional somnolence (drowsiness); propulsive walking (driving or pushing forward, often without control); and "spinal" signs, including asymmetrical weakness. Some horses show asymmetrical or symmetrical ataxia. Equine mortality rate can be as high as 30-40%

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Erica Larson, former news editor for The Horse, holds a degree in journalism with an external specialty in equine science from Michigan State University in East Lansing. A Massachusetts native, she grew up in the saddle and has dabbled in a variety of disciplines including foxhunting, saddle seat, and mounted games. Currently, Erica competes in eventing with her OTTB, Dorado.

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