Arboviral Equine Encephalitides.

This research article provides an overview of different types of arboviruses that cause neurologic disease in equines, focusing on the alphaviruses and flaviviruses, which are transmitted by arthropod vectors or through direct contact, air, or ingestion.

Understanding Arboviral Equine Encephalitides

• This research paper discusses numerous viruses that cause neurological diseases in equids, horses, donkeys, and zebras. The viral families covered in the research include Togaviridae, Flaviviridae, Rhabdoviridae, Herpesviridae, Bornaviridae, and Bunyaviridae.
• Many of these viruses are classified as arboviruses because they use arthropods like mosquitoes and ticks as vectors, meaning they carry the virus from one host to another. Other modes of transmission for these viruses include direct contact, inhalation, ingestion, or through skin damage.

A Closer Look at Alphaviruses and Flaviviruses

• The study pays particular attention to the arboviruses that belong to the Togaviridae and Flaviviridae families, known as alphaviruses and flaviviruses, respectively.
• These viruses are of significant concern due to their ability to cause serious, sometimes fatal neurologic diseases in equids. For instance, alphaviruses can cause Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), Western equine encephalitis (WEE), and Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE), while flaviviruses are often responsible for diseases like West Nile Virus (WNV) and Japanese encephalitis (JE).
• The study attempts to provide an in-depth understanding of the pathophysiology and clinical aspects of these viruses, which involves exploring how the viruses function, what symptoms they cause, how they progress and how they affect the overall health and well-being of the equid.