Hot Topics

-         Mosquito vectors and bird hosts

-         Found in most states East of the Mississippi River

-         People and horses are “dead-end” hosts, cycle stops here

-         1933 – got its name in an outbreak in Mid-Atlantic States but around long before

 

 

-         initially, non-specific signs – fever, lethargy, stiffness

-         then may progress to neurologic disease

-         signs vary according to what part of the CNS if affected

-         cerebral lesions - behavior changes, excitability, lethargy, circling, leaning against a wall, abnormal sensitivity to light and sound

-         cerebral and spinal cord lesions – blindness, ataxia, cranial nerve deficits, weakness

-         mortality rates are 75% - 95 %, complete recovery is rare

 

 

-         clinical signs

-         antibody titers – one very high titer or paired titers

-         virus isolation

 

 

-         decrease mosquito populations

-         reduce stagnant water

-         mosquitoes begin to breed in any standing water that lasts for more than 4 days

-         screens, stall at dusk and dawn, insect repellant, fans, keep lights off in barn

-         vaccination