Emergence of Equine West Nile Encephalitis in Central Macedonia, Greece, 2010.
Abstract: During the summer of 2010, an outbreak of West Nile virus (WNV) infections attributed to a lineage 2 WNV strain was reported among humans and horses in Central Macedonia, Northern Greece. Here, the clinical and laboratory investigation of horses that showed severe neurological signs due to WNV infection is being described. Specifically, between August and September 2010, 17 horses with neurological signs were detected. WNV infection was confirmed in all 17 clinical cases by applying laboratory testing. The duration of WNV-specific IgM antibodies in sera obtained from seven of the clinically affected horses was relatively short (10-60 days; mean 44 days). In the regional unit of Thessaloniki, (i) seroprevalence of WNV and fatality rate in horses were high (33% and 30%, respectively), and (ii) the ratio of neurological manifestations-to-infections for this virus strain was high (19%). These observations indicate that the strain responsible for the massive human epidemic of 2010 in Greece was also highly pathogenic for horses. This is the first time that WNV infection has been documented in horses with clinical manifestations in Greece. WNV infection should be included in the differential diagnosis of horses with encephalitis in Greece.
© 2015 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.
Publication Date: 2015-02-07 PubMed ID: 25660661DOI: 10.1111/tbed.12334Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research paper discusses an outbreak of West Nile Virus (WNV) infections in horses in Central Macedonia, Greece, in the summer of 2010. The study confirms WNV infection in 17 horses that presented severe neurological signs and scrutinizes the effects of the virus on these animals, indicating that the strain responsible for the human epidemic during the same period was also highly pathogenic for horses.
Study Overview
- The study, conducted during the summer of 2010, examines an outbreak of West Nile virus (WNV) infections in Central Macedonia, Northern Greece. The viral strain, lineage 2 WNV, was found to impact both humans and horses.
- The research focuses on horses displaying severe neurological signs due to WNV infection, marking the first documentation of such a phenomenon in Greece.
Clinical and Laboratory Investigation
- During August and September 2010, 17 horses exhibiting neurological signs were identified. Laboratory tests confirmed WNV infection in each case.
- From the seven clinically affected horses that were monitored, it was observed that the presence of WNV-specific IgM antibodies in their sera was short-lived, lasting between 10 to 60 days, with a mean duration of 44 days.
Regional Observations and Implications
- Study results showed a high seroprevalence of WNV and fatality rate in horses—in the regional unit of Thessaloniki, these figures were determined to be 33% and 30% respectively—indicating high pathogenicity of the viral strain.
- The ratio of neurological manifestations-to-infections for the virus strain was also high, at 19%, suggesting that the strain that caused a mass human epidemic in 2010 in Greece was equally detrimental to horses.
- In light of these findings, the researchers recommend including WNV infection in the differential diagnosis of horses presenting symptoms of encephalitis in Greece.
Conclusion
- This research sheds light on a significant outbreak of West Nile Virus in the equine population of Central Macedonia, Greece. This strain of the virus was found to be highly dangerous to horses, leading to strong neurological symptoms and high fatality rates.
- The study not only underscores the need for comprehensive veterinary care, but also advocates for veterinarians in Greece to consider WNV infection in horses displaying signs of encephalitis.
Cite This Article
APA
Bouzalas IG, Diakakis N, Chaintoutis SC, Brellou GD, Papanastassopoulou M, Danis K, Vlemmas I, Seuberlich T, Dovas CI.
(2015).
Emergence of Equine West Nile Encephalitis in Central Macedonia, Greece, 2010.
Transbound Emerg Dis, 63(6), e219-e227.
https://doi.org/10.1111/tbed.12334 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
- NeuroCenter, Division of Neurological Sciences, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
- Equine Unit, Companion Animal Clinic, Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
- Diagnostic Laboratory, Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
- Laboratory of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
- Department of Surveillance and Intervention, Hellenic Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Athens, Greece.
- Laboratory of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
- NeuroCenter, Division of Neurological Sciences, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece. dovas@vet.auth.gr.
- Diagnostic Laboratory, Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece. dovas@vet.auth.gr.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Antibodies, Viral / blood
- Encephalitis / epidemiology
- Encephalitis / veterinary
- Encephalitis / virology
- Epidemics
- Female
- Greece / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / virology
- Horses
- Humans
- Male
- Seroepidemiologic Studies
- West Nile Fever / epidemiology
- West Nile Fever / veterinary
- West Nile Fever / virology
- West Nile virus / immunology
- West Nile virus / isolation & purification
Citations
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- Fehér OE, Fehérvári P, Tolnai CH, Forgách P, Malik P, Jerzsele Á, Wagenhoffer Z, Szenci O, Korbacska-Kutasi O. Epidemiology and Clinical Manifestation of West Nile Virus Infections of Equines in Hungary, 2007-2020.. Viruses 2022 Nov 18;14(11).
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