What is Equine Encephalitis?, Symptoms and Treatment

There are diseases that can affect horses that few know about. One of them is Equine Encephalitis, which is spread by a virus that can lead to various difficulties in horses and humans, producing from fever to death due to brain inflammation. By continuing to read this article you will be able to learn more about Equine Encephalitis. Do not miss it!

equine encephalitis

equine encephalitis

Equine encephalitis is an extremely serious viral pathology that affects horses as well as humans. Birds, despite being infected, experience the disease asymptomatically and without sequelae. In the following paragraphs we will share interesting data about what is known about this virus that, in its endemic area, which is the American continent, has put an end to the lives of numerous horses. Later we will go into the details of its symptoms, its treatment and how to prevent its infection.

What is Equine Encephalitis?

Equine encephalitis or equine encephalomyelitis is a disease of viral origin that horses, birds and humans can suffer from, which is why it is recognized as a zoonotic pathology. This disease has four varieties, all caused by the virus of the Alphavirus genus, where the first three are present in the American continent:

  • Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE)
  • Western Equine Encephalitis (WEE)
  • Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis (VEE)
  • West Nile Virus Encephalitis (WNV)

The varieties of the east and west are the most contagious and harmful for the three groups of animals that could harm. On the other hand, when Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis appears, it is separated into several subclasses, these being considered to be of lesser virulence and only some harm horses and humans.

equine encephalitis

Causes

The viruses that cause equine encephalitis are part of the same genus, which resist very little in the external environment, so they do not take long to denature when they are not infecting a body. Initially, these viruses subsist inside certain genera of mosquitoes that only parasitize some wild and domestic birds that are hosts of the disease, usually asymptomatic, that never bite humans or other mammals.

The problem manifests itself when temperatures rise in the area in which they live and other types of mosquitoes that do not survive low temperatures make their appearance. This new conglomerate of mosquitoes can bite both birds and mammals, spreading the disease among them.

Symptom

The symptoms of equine encephalitis come to appear like any other encephalitis. The EEE, regularly, is a shorter and deadlier pathology. The manifestation and development of symptoms are:

  • High fever
  • The horse is inappetent
  • A depression is manifested in the animal
  • His head exhibits a fallen position in relation to the body
  • The eyelids and lips remain saggy
  • Your sense of sight is altered
  • The horse places its legs so that they are far apart from each other
  • Involuntary movements begin as the brain begins to swell
  • He suffers from ataxia, paresxia and, finally, paralysis
  • The animal lies down, convulses and perishes

Types of Equine Encephalitis

Below we are going to review the different types of equine encephalitis that exist and that, to a large extent, establish their location or the degree of severity of their possible infection:

Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE)

Its name is due to the fact that its main area of ​​infection is usually located in the extreme east of the United States, more specifically, in Florida. The enormous accumulation of swamps, ponds and wetlands make it a site of easy contagion, since the mosquito that transmits it is the Culex Melanura, like others such as the Culiseta or the Aedes, very typical of hardwood and water marshes. sweet. Despite everything, it has spread to other Caribbean nations, as well as Canada and other areas of South America.

Western Equine Encephalitis (WEE)

Western equine encephalitis is another variety of this pathology that is usually also reproduced by mosquitoes, such as Culex or Culiseta. In his case, he shows different degrees of morbidity and mortality. As a general rule, it slightly harms humans, while it is more virulent with horses, and epidemic incidents usually take place in places such as North America, Argentina, Brazil or Uruguay.

Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis (VEE)

Venezuelan equine encephalitis has received this denomination for being one of the regions of which it is typical, together with other surrounding American nations such as Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Ecuador or Trinidad, particularly in jungle sites. However, the transmission process is similar to that of eastern equine encephalitis, as are its symptoms. The mosquitoes that usually transmit this virus are Aedes, Culex Portesi and Psorophora ferox.

West Nile Virus Encephalitis (WNV)

In contrast to other forms of equine encephalitis, West Nile Virus manifests itself with other symptoms or types of infection in addition to the mosquito bite itself, such as occurs through blood transfusion, breastfeeding or transplants and even by coming into contact with the cattle. Added to this, it has a greater reach due to the migration of birds, managing to reach almost all the continents of the planet and all nations. It is transmitted by mosquitoes such as the Culex, Ochlerotatus or Psorophora.

Diagnosis

After recognizing the symptoms that a horse infected with this virus shows, a veterinarian could evaluate some type of infection that damages the nervous system. However, to confirm that it is a virus and, in particular, the virus that causes equine encephalitis, it is necessary to carry out viral isolation in a variety of cell lines or in suckling mice.

Samples are taken directly from the cerebrospinal fluid of infected animals, although nerve tissue samples can also be taken if the animal has already perished. ELISA tests or RNA amplification by PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) are rapid diagnostic techniques, frequently used in many laboratories.

Transmission

The most important of the problems of equine encephalitis is that there is no effective treatment for the eradication of the virus, so the best measure to prevent the disease is prevention. In such a way that, in the event of a verified case of equine encephalitis, it is advisable to separate the animal and clean the area, since it is likely that mosquitoes circulate there that can spread the disease.

Antibiotics are not effective against viruses and no drug is known to work as an antiviral for this pathology. In extremely serious cases, mitigating and supportive treatment is used, such as hospitalization of the horse, respiratory support, fluid therapy and prevention of collateral infections.

Equine Encephalitis and its Vaccine

For the prevention of equine encephalitis infection there are several methods available:

  • Methodical vaccination of all horses with vaccines that carry the weakened virus or others with the passive virus. If you have doubts, you should consult with the veterinarian the suggestions of the vaccine plan for equines. Likewise, two vaccines for use in humans can be purchased on the market.
  • Control of mosquito pests by fumigating the area, which is not advisable since it affects other arthropods and other species that are not related to the disease. The use of local but highly effective repellents is preferable.
  • Use of mosquito nets, fumigation and hygiene in the stables. Prevent water from stagnating in ponds or drums where mosquitoes can breed.

The proper use of all these prevention methods greatly reduces the probability of an outbreak of an epidemic among equines.

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