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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Res Commun / Environmental risk factors for equine West Nile virus diseas...
Veterinary research communications2008; 33(5); 461-471; doi: 10.1007/s11259-008-9192-1

Environmental risk factors for equine West Nile virus disease cases in Texas.

Abstract: West Nile Virus (WNV) was first detected in the Texas equine population during June 2002. Infection has since spread rapidly across the state and become endemic in the equine population. Environmental risk factors associated with equine WNV attack rates in Texas counties during the period 2002 to 2004 were investigated. Equine WNV attack rates were smoothed using an empirical Bayesian model, because of the variability among county equine populations (range 46-9,517). Risk factors investigated included hydrological features (lakes, rivers, swamps, canals and river basins), land cover (tree, mosaic, shrub, herbaceous, cultivated and artificial), elevation, climate (rainfall and temperature), and reports of WNV-positive mosquito and wild bird samples. Estimated county equine WNV attack rate was best described by the number of lakes, presence of broadleaf deciduous forest, presence of cultivated areas, location within the Brazos River watershed, WNV-positive mosquito status and average temperature. An understanding of environmental factors that increase equine WNV disease risk can be used to design and target disease control programs.
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Publication Date: 2008-11-25 PubMed ID: 19031106DOI: 10.1007/s11259-008-9192-1Google 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 study examines the environmental risk factors connected with the prevalence of West Nile Virus (WNV) in the horse population of Texas between 2002 and 2004, identifying environmental features, climate, and presence of WNV-positive mosquitoes and birds as significant influences.

Identification of the Problem

  • The research was prompted by the rapid spread of West Nile Virus (WNV) across the horse population in Texas after it was first detected in June 2002.
  • Understanding the environmental risk factors that contribute to the spread of WNV in horses is crucial for designing effective disease control and prevention strategies.

Research Methodology

  • To account for the varied populations of horses in different Texas counties (ranging from 46 to 9,517), the investigators used an empirical Bayesian model to smooth the WNV attack rates.
  • The researchers looked at a variety of risk factors including hydrological features such as lakes, rivers, swamps, canals, and river basins, various types of land cover, climate variables such as rainfall and temperature, and the presence of WNV-positive mosquito and bird samples.

Research Findings

  • The study concluded that the equine WNV attack rate in a particular county is highly influenced by specific environmental factors: the number of lakes, whether there are areas of broadleaf deciduous forest and cultivated land, whether the county is located within the Brazos River watershed, the presence of WNV-positive mosquitoes, and the average temperature.

Impact and Implications

  • The insights from this study can be valuable in defining and targeting disease control programs, by highlighting where the risks of WNV infection are most significant.
  • For instance, in areas known to have a high density of lakes or where farming is widespread, authorities could increase disease monitoring efforts or deploy additional control measures such as mosquito abatement programs.
  • The finding that temperature also affects WNV transmission risk could inform seasonal or weather-based timing of these interventions.

Cite This Article

APA
Ward MP, Wittich CA, Fosgate G, Srinivasan R. (2008). Environmental risk factors for equine West Nile virus disease cases in Texas. Vet Res Commun, 33(5), 461-471. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11259-008-9192-1

Publication

Veterinary research communications
ISSN: 1573-7446
NlmUniqueID: 8100520
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 33
Issue: 5
Pages: 461-471

Researcher Affiliations

Ward, Michael P
  • Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4458, USA. m.ward@usyd.edu.au
Wittich, Courtney A
    Fosgate, Geoffrey
      Srinivasan, Raghavan

        MeSH Terms

        • Animals
        • Culicidae / physiology
        • Demography
        • Environment
        • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
        • Horses
        • Risk Factors
        • Rivers
        • Texas / epidemiology
        • Water
        • Water Movements
        • West Nile Fever / epidemiology
        • West Nile Fever / veterinary

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        Citations

        This article has been cited 4 times.
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