Results of diagnostic testing reported on September 15 by the University of Kentucky’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory confirmed the state’s first equine diagnosed with West Nile Virus in Kentucky this year, according to Rusty Ford, Equine Operations Consultant with the Kentucky State Veterinarian’s office.
The confirmation is based on detectable West Nile virus-specific IgM antibodies and compatible clinical symptoms.
The 15-year-old unvaccinated Quarter Horse gelding in Washington County had onset of clinical signs on September 8, including being hypersensitive to touch and knuckling over. On September 15, the gelding was described by the attending veterinarian as having responded to treatment and was much improved with a favorable prognosis.
The Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s web page will be updated to reflect this first equine case. Current and historical summaries can be found by visiting this website.
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