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The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne2021; 62(5); 469-476;

Surveillance of West Nile virus in horses in Canada: A retrospective study of cases reported to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency from 2003 to 2019.

Abstract: The objectives of the study were to describe the regional and provincial incidence rates and the weekly distribution of 842 reported West Nile virus (WNV) cases in horses in Canada between 2003 and 2019. This study also investigated characteristics of cases reported to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) between 2015 and 2019. The western region (British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba) had higher incidence rates than the eastern region (Ontario, Quebec, and Atlantic provinces) and overall, Saskatchewan registered the highest incidence. Over the study period, an earlier weekly preliminary onset of WNV cases was observed in the western region. The vast majority of cases were unvaccinated (96%), most cases were Quarter Horses (68%) and the risk of mortality was 31.9%. The findings of this study may be useful in informing veterinary equine practitioners about measures to prevent WNV disease in horses in Canada. . Les objectifs de cette étude étaient de décrire les taux d’incidence régionaux et provinciaux, ainsi que la distribution hebdomadaire des 842 cas équins de virus du Nil occidental (VNO) notifiés à l’Agence canadienne d’inspection des aliments (ACIA) de 2003 à 2019. Les caractéristiques des cas notifiés de 2015 à 2019 ont également été investiguées. La région de l’Ouest (Colombie-Britannique, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba) a enregistré un taux d’incidence plus élevé que la région de l’Est (Ontario, Québec, provinces de l’Atlantique). Une incidence particulièrement élevée du VNO a été notée en Saskatchewan. Les cas sont survenus plus tôt dans l’Ouest que dans l’Est durant la période d’étude. La majorité des cas n’étaient pas vaccinés (96 %) et ils provenaient surtout de Quarter Horses (68 %). Le risque de mortalité était de 31,9 %. Cette étude fournit des éléments clés d’information pour guider les vétérinaires praticiens dans l’application des mesures de prévention du VNO chez les chevaux au Canada.(Traduit par les auteurs).
Copyright and/or publishing rights held by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association.
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Publication Date: 2021-05-11 PubMed ID: 33967285PubMed Central: PMC8048205
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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 provides a comprehensive insight into the distribution and incidence rates of West Nile virus (WNV) in horses across Canada from 2003 to 2019. Notably, the study underscores a higher incidence of the disease in Western provinces, notably Saskatchewan, and significantly, highlights that the vast majority of infected horses were unvaccinated.

Regional and Provincial Incidence Rates

  • The study examined the reported cases of West Nile virus (WNV) in horses across Canada from 2003 to 2019.
  • A total of 842 cases were scrutinized to understand the regional and provincial incidence rates.
  • Results showed that the Western region of Canada (British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba) recorded a higher incidence rate compared to the Eastern region (Ontario, Quebec, and the Atlantic provinces).
  • Among all, Saskatchewan marked the highest incidence of WNV in horses.

Weekly Distribution and Characteristics of Cases

  • The chronological distribution trends of the WNV cases were also investigated. An earlier onset of WNV cases was observed in the Western region compared to the Eastern over the studied timeframe.
  • In-depth investigation into the characteristics of cases reported to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) from 2015 to 2019 revealed that a majority of the affected horses were unvaccinated. A staggering 96% of cases were unvaccinated against WNV.

Breed Specificity and Mortality Rate

  • Moving towards breed specificity, the study showed that most cases were Quarter Horses, amounting to 68% of all WNV cases.
  • The risk of mortality was found to be 31.9%, indicating a high fatality rate among horses infected with WNV.

Implications for Prevention Strategies

  • The outcomes of this research can considerably influence the preventive strategies adopted by veterinary practitioners. The high number of cases amongst unvaccinated horses underlines the importance of vaccination programs.
  • The report of high incidence in certain regions, like Saskatchewan, and in specific breeds like Quarter Horses, suggests a need for focused preventive measures for these high-risk groups.
  • The death rate of infected horses underlines the urgency needed for effective preventive policies to control and manage WNV in horses in Canada.

Cite This Article

APA
Levasseur A, Arsenault J, Paré J. (2021). Surveillance of West Nile virus in horses in Canada: A retrospective study of cases reported to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency from 2003 to 2019. Can Vet J, 62(5), 469-476.

Publication

The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne
ISSN: 0008-5286
NlmUniqueID: 0004653
Country: Canada
Language: English
Volume: 62
Issue: 5
Pages: 469-476

Researcher Affiliations

Levasseur, Antoine
  • Animal Health Science Directorate, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, 3200 rue Sicotte, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec J2S 2M2 (Levasseur, Paré); Groupe de recherche en épidémiologie des zoonoses et santé publique (GREZOSP) et Département de pathologie et microbiologie vétérinaire, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, 3200 rue Sicotte, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec J2S 2M2, Canada (Levasseur, Arsenault, Paré).
Arsenault, Julie
  • Animal Health Science Directorate, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, 3200 rue Sicotte, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec J2S 2M2 (Levasseur, Paré); Groupe de recherche en épidémiologie des zoonoses et santé publique (GREZOSP) et Département de pathologie et microbiologie vétérinaire, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, 3200 rue Sicotte, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec J2S 2M2, Canada (Levasseur, Arsenault, Paré).
Paré, Julie
  • Animal Health Science Directorate, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, 3200 rue Sicotte, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec J2S 2M2 (Levasseur, Paré); Groupe de recherche en épidémiologie des zoonoses et santé publique (GREZOSP) et Département de pathologie et microbiologie vétérinaire, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, 3200 rue Sicotte, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec J2S 2M2, Canada (Levasseur, Arsenault, Paré).

MeSH Terms

  • Alberta
  • Animals
  • British Columbia
  • Food Inspection
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horses
  • Manitoba
  • Ontario
  • Quebec
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Saskatchewan / epidemiology
  • West Nile virus

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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. Todoric D, Vrbova L, Mitri ME, Gasmi S, Stewart A, Connors S, Zheng H, Bourgeois AC, Drebot M, Paré J, Zimmer M, Buck P. An overview of the National West Nile Virus Surveillance System in Canada: A One Health approach. Can Commun Dis Rep 2022 May 5;48(5):181-187.
    pubmed: 37325258
  2. Levasseur A, Paré J, Aubry P, Iwasawa S, Leung D, Arsenault J. Stochastic modeling of the horse population and vaccination data indicates low annual vaccination coverage for West Nile virus in Canada (2016-2020). Can J Vet Res 2025 Apr;89(2):54-63.
    pubmed: 40170915
  3. Naveed A, Eertink LG, Wang D, Li F. Lessons Learned from West Nile Virus Infection:Vaccinations in Equines and Their Implications for One Health Approaches. Viruses 2024 May 14;16(5).
    doi: 10.3390/v16050781pubmed: 38793662google scholar: lookup
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