According to the Kentucky State Veterinarian’s office, Kentucky identified a fourth equine West Nile virus case the end of October. There was concern that this information had not been received via email.
This case was originally confirmed on Oct. 29, 2014, as a 10-year-old gelding being affected with West Nile virus. The diagnosis is based on detectable WNv IgM and compatible clinical symptoms. The Quarter Horse gelding was in Allen County with no history of vaccination.
The onset of clinical signs was Oct. 26, when the horse was showing mild rear limb ataxia and was febrile (with a temperature of 101.5 degrees Fahrenheit). The horse is reported to be much improved.
A summary of West Nile virus cases in Kentucky can be found at 2014 Year-to-Date Summary is available online at http://www.kyagr.com/statevet/equine-infectious-diseases.html#west.
In Kentucky this year, of the four reported cases three were euthanized. Three were know to be unvaccinated, and one horse’s vaccination stats was unknown (but it probably was not vaccinated. The affected horses were in Allen, Calloway, Marion, and Marshall Counties.
