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Veterinary sciences2026; 13(3); 239; doi: 10.3390/vetsci13030239

Gaps Between Awareness and Prevention of West Nile Virus Among Horse Owners in an Endemic Country: A Cross-Sectional Study from Romania.

Abstract: West Nile virus (WNV) circulates endemically in Romania, yet prevention of WNV infection in horses largely depends on owner-driven decisions that require accurate risk perception and veterinary guidance. A cross-sectional online survey was carried out between May and November 2025 to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and preventive practices (KAP) regarding WNV among 227 horse owners from various Romanian regions. In total, 67.4% of respondents had previously heard of WNV. The main transmission route was correctly identified as mosquito bites by 49.8% of participants, while 32.2% answered "don't know" or presented misconceptions: horse-to-horse contact (9.3%), tick bites (10.6%) and blood transfusion (0.4%). Recognition of clinical signs was limited, with fever (31.3% of respondents) and gait abnormalities or ataxia (24.7% of respondents) being most frequently mentioned, followed by inappetence (19.4% of respondents), seizures (18.1% of respondents), coughing (8.8% of respondents), and abortions (10.6% of respondents); 47.6% of respondents were unable to identify any specific signs. Awareness of the existence of an equine WNV vaccine was reported by 23.8% of respondents, while only 4.0% indicated that their horses had been vaccinated. The most common preventive measures included the use of insecticides in stables (61.2%) and topical repellents on horses (55.5%), whereas environmental control actions such as removing standing water (14.1%) or avoiding swampy areas (11.9%) were less frequent; 19.4% reported taking no preventive measures. Veterinary communication was limited, with only 17.2% of respondents having received information about WNV from a veterinarian, and 21.6% perceiving a real risk of infection in Romania. Overall, the data show a marked disconnect between awareness and actionable prevention (particularly vaccination and environmental mosquito control), indicating that targeted owner education must be paired with structured veterinary communication to translate knowledge into preventive uptake in endemic settings.
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Publication Date: 2026-03-01 PubMed ID: 41893656PubMed Central: PMC13030259DOI: 10.3390/vetsci13030239Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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Overview

  • This study investigates the knowledge, attitudes, and preventive practices regarding West Nile Virus (WNV) among horse owners in Romania, an endemic country, revealing significant gaps between awareness and effective prevention measures.

Research Context and Objectives

  • West Nile Virus (WNV) is endemic in Romania and poses a health risk to horses.
  • Prevention relies heavily on horse owners’ decisions, which require accurate knowledge and veterinary guidance.
  • The study aimed to assess horse owners’ knowledge about WNV transmission, clinical signs, preventive practices, and the role of veterinary communication.

Methodology

  • Design: Cross-sectional online survey.
  • Duration: Conducted from May to November 2025.
  • Participants: 227 horse owners from various regions of Romania.
  • Focus: Knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to WNV.

Key Findings: Awareness and Knowledge

  • Awareness of WNV: 67.4% of respondents had heard of WNV, indicating moderate general awareness.
  • Transmission routes:
    • Only 49.8% correctly identified mosquito bites as the main transmission route.
    • Significant misconceptions existed: 9.3% thought horse-to-horse contact was a route, 10.6% mentioned ticks, and 0.4% cited blood transfusion.
    • 32.2% responded “don’t know,” showing gaps in basic knowledge.
  • Recognition of clinical signs was generally poor:
    • Most commonly recognized signs were fever (31.3%) and gait abnormalities/ataxia (24.7%).
    • Other signs like inappetence (19.4%), seizures (18.1%), coughing (8.8%), and abortions (10.6%) were less frequently identified.
    • Nearly half (47.6%) could not name any specific clinical signs.
  • Aware of WNV vaccine: Only 23.8% knew about an equine vaccine, and a mere 4.0% had vaccinated their horses.

Preventive Practices

  • Most common preventive measures:
    • Use of insecticides in stables (61.2%).
    • Topical repellents applied to horses (55.5%).
  • Less common environmental controls:
    • Removing standing water to reduce mosquitoes (14.1%).
    • Avoiding swampy areas (11.9%).
  • Notably, 19.4% of horse owners reported taking no preventive measures at all.
  • Low vaccination rate signals a critical gap in proactive disease prevention.

Veterinary Communication and Risk Perception

  • Only 17.2% had received information about WNV from a veterinarian, indicating limited veterinary engagement or outreach.
  • Just 21.6% perceived a real risk of WNV infection in Romania, which may reduce motivation to adopt preventive measures.

Implications and Conclusions

  • There is a clear disconnect between awareness and actionable prevention among horse owners.
  • While many owners know about WNV, misconceptions and gaps in knowledge limit effective risk management.
  • Preventative efforts such as vaccination and environmental mosquito control are underutilized despite their importance.
  • Lack of veterinary communication contributes to low risk perception and poor preventive uptake.
  • The study emphasizes the need for targeted, structured educational campaigns for horse owners combined with proactive veterinary guidance.
  • Improved owner education and veterinary communication are critical to translating knowledge into practical prevention and controlling WNV in endemic countries like Romania.

Cite This Article

APA
(2026). Gaps Between Awareness and Prevention of West Nile Virus Among Horse Owners in an Endemic Country: A Cross-Sectional Study from Romania. Vet Sci, 13(3), 239. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci13030239

Publication

Veterinary sciences
ISSN: 2306-7381
NlmUniqueID: 101680127
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 13
Issue: 3
PII: 239

Researcher Affiliations

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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