The Kentucky Office of State Veterinarian receives diagnostic results late yesterday afternoon (Sept. 24) from the University of Kentucky’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory confirming a diagnosis of West Nile virus (WNV) affecting a second horse in Kentucky this season. The diagnosis is based on positive WNV identifiers found in brain tissue by PCR and with compatible clinical signs.
In Marion County, Kentuck, Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) Reference 002, was a 3-year-old Tennessee Walking Horse female.
fasciculation, and when attempting to move forward would cross step. The animal’s condition worsened the following 48 hours to a recumbent state and she was euthanized.
The animal is reported as having been relocated from Tennessee to Kentucky in late August, and she had previously resided in Alabama.
Although it appears unlikely she was vaccinated, we cannot definitively state the status of the animal’s West Nile vaccination status at this time.
