California Equine WNV Case Count Rises to Five

Two unvaccinated Quarter Horse fillies from Kern and Contra Costa counties are the latest horses to test positive.
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California animal health officials have confirmed two additional cases of West Nile virus (WNV) in horses in that state.

“On Aug. 10, 2017, an unvaccinated 8-month-old Quarter Horse filly in Kern County and an unvaccinated 3-year-old Quarter Horse filly in Contra Costa County displaying neurologic signs were confirmed positive for WNV,” read a statement from the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). “The Kern County filly was euthanized due to the severity of the disease and the Contra Costa County filly is recovering.

“For 2017, a total of five horses have been confirmed positive for WNV,” the CDFA statement continued. “The positive horses were located in Contra Costa, Fresno, Kern (2), and Riverside counties. Four horses were unvaccinated and one horse had unknown vaccination status. Four horses died or were euthanized and one horse is recovering.”

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 fasciculation; 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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Written by:

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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