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Transboundary and emerging diseases2014; 63(2); 184-193; doi: 10.1111/tbed.12243

Clinical Sentinel Surveillance of Equine West Nile Fever, Spain.

Abstract: West Nile fever (WNF) is a viral zoonotic infection caused by a mosquito-borne flavivirus of the Flaviviridae family. According to a comparative study, the passive surveillance of horses by equine veterinarians appeared to be the most cost-effective system in the European context of WNF. Clinical data issued from a passive epidemiosurveillance network from September 2010 to December 2011 on horses in Spain were statistically compared and used to develop a predictive diagnostic decision tree, both with the aim to improve the early clinical detection of WNF in horses. Although clinical signs were variable in horses affected by WNF, four clinical signs and the month of occurrence were identified as useful indicators to distinguish between WNF-related and WNF-unrelated cases. The signs that pointed out a presumptive diagnosis of WNF in horses were cranial nerves deficits, limb paralysis, photophobia and nasal discharge. Clinical examination of horses with neurological signs that are not vaccinated against WNV could provide important clues for the early clinical detection of WNF and therefore serve as an alert for possible human viral infections. The study of the clinical pattern of WNF in horses is of importance to enhance awareness and better understanding and to optimize surveillance designs for clinical detection of WNF in horses in advance of epidemic activity affecting humans.
© 2014 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.
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Publication Date: 2014-06-05 PubMed ID: 24899369DOI: 10.1111/tbed.12243Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research investigates the use of clinical surveillance in horses to better detect and respond to West Nile fever (WNF), a viral infection spread by mosquitoes. The study, conducted in Spain from September 2010 to December 2011, found that specific clinical signs in horses, coupled with the time of year, can help distinguish between WNF and other disorders. This could provide an early warning system for potential human outbreaks.

Objectives of the Study

  • The primary goal of the research was to enhance the early clinical detection of West Nile fever (WNF) in horses. By identifying clear clinical indicators, the study sought to distinguish WNF from other diseases, thereby providing an effective warning system for potential human WNF outbreaks.
  • The research was also aimed at revealing the most cost-effective surveillance system to oversee WNF in a European context, which the study found to be passive surveillance by equine veterinarians.

Methodology

  • The researchers utilized clinical data from a passive epidemiosurveillance network, obtained over a period stretching from September 2010 to December 2011.
  • This data was analysed statistically, with the aim of developing a predictive diagnostic decision tree to aid in the early detection of WNF in horses.

Results of the Study

  • The study found that while the clinical presentations of WNF in horses varied, four specific symptoms alongside the month of occurrence could act as useful indicators to differentiate between WNF-related and unrelated cases.
  • The four symptoms included cranial nerve deficits, limb paralysis, photophobia (light sensitivity), and nasal discharge.

Implications of the Study

  • Examining horses displaying neurological signs who have not been vaccinated against WNF could provide essential clues for early WNF detection, potentially serving as a warning for human viral infections.
  • Understanding the clinical pattern of WNF in horses is vital in increasing awareness, comprehension, and enhancing surveillance designs for early clinical detection of WNF, potentially before it has a chance to affect human populations.

Cite This Article

APA
Saegerman C, Alba-Casals A, García-Bocanegra I, Dal Pozzo F, van Galen G. (2014). Clinical Sentinel Surveillance of Equine West Nile Fever, Spain. Transbound Emerg Dis, 63(2), 184-193. https://doi.org/10.1111/tbed.12243

Publication

Transboundary and emerging diseases
ISSN: 1865-1682
NlmUniqueID: 101319538
Country: Germany
Language: English
Volume: 63
Issue: 2
Pages: 184-193

Researcher Affiliations

Saegerman, C
  • Research Unit of Epidemiology and Risk Analysis applied to veterinary science (UREAR-ULg), Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals & Health (FARAH), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liege, Liege, Belgium.
Alba-Casals, A
  • Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA), UAB-IRTA, Barcelona, Spain.
García-Bocanegra, I
  • Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Córdoba-Agrifood Excellence International Campus (ceiA3), Córdoba, Spain.
Dal Pozzo, F
  • Research Unit of Epidemiology and Risk Analysis applied to veterinary science (UREAR-ULg), Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals & Health (FARAH), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liege, Liege, Belgium.
van Galen, G
  • Large Animal Clinic, Internal Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Decision Trees
  • Horses
  • Humans
  • Sentinel Surveillance / veterinary
  • Spain / epidemiology
  • Veterinarians
  • West Nile Fever / epidemiology
  • West Nile Fever / transmission
  • West Nile Fever / veterinary
  • West Nile virus / isolation & purification
  • Zoonoses / epidemiology
  • Zoonoses / prevention & control

Citations

This article has been cited 12 times.
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