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Emerging infectious diseases2002; 8(8); 777-782; doi: 10.3201/eid0808.010486

West Nile virus outbreak in horses, southern France, 2000: results of a serosurvey.

Abstract: During late summer and autumn 2000, a West Nile fever outbreak in southern France resulted in 76 equine clinical cases; 21 horses died. We report the results of a large serosurvey of all equines within a 10-km radius of laboratory-confirmed cases. Blood samples were obtained from 5,107 equines, distributed in groups of 1 to 91 animals. West Nile virus immunoglobulin (Ig) G antibodies were found in 8.5% of animals (n=432). Forty-two percent of the IgG-positive animals were also IgM positive. Horses living in small groups were more affected than those in large groups. The results suggest that West Nile virus is not endemic in the affected area, the Camargue; rather, sporadic outbreaks are separated by long silent periods.
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Publication Date: 2002-07-27 PubMed ID: 12141961PubMed Central: PMC2732513DOI: 10.3201/eid0808.010486Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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This research paper delves into an outbreak of West Nile virus in horses in southern France in 2000, studying its effect and observing patterns across small and larger groups of equines found in the local area named Camargue.

West Nile Virus Outbreak in Camargue, Southern France

  • The article addresses an outbreak of West Nile virus (WNV) that occurred among horses in southern France, in an area called Camargue, during the late summer and autumn of 2000.
  • During this outbreak, 76 horses contracted clinical cases of the fever, resulting in the death of 21 horses.

Conducting a Serosurvey

  • The researchers conducted a serosurvey – a study that measures the presence of specific antibodies in a population – involving a significant sample of equines living within a 10-kilometer radius of where the laboratory had confirmed cases.
  • In total, 5,107 equines were tested, with their numbers in groups ranging from one to 91 animals.

Testing for West Nile Virus

  • The researchers carried out tests to detect the presence of West Nile virus immunoglobulin (Ig) G antibodies in the blood samples of the equines. Immunoglobulins are proteins produced by the immune system in response to a foreign substance or an infection.
  • 8.5% of the animals (total of 432) were found to have West Nile virus IgG antibodies.
  • Out of the IgG-positive animals, 42% were also found to be IgM positive. IgM antibodies are often the first type of antibody produced by the immune system in response to an infection.

Analysing Group Size Effect

  • The research findings noted a discrepancy in virus incidence based on group size, with the disease affecting horses living in smaller groups more than those in larger groups.

Outbreak Patterns of West Nile Virus

  • The survey results indicated that the West Nile virus is not endemic in Camargue, suggesting the region does not constantly experience the disease, albeit its occurrence in 2000.
  • Instead, the area undergoes sporadic outbreaks followed by long silent periods where no cases of the West Nile virus are detected.

Cite This Article

APA
Durand B, Chevalier V, Pouillot R, Labie J, Marendat I, Murgue B, Zeller H, Zientara S. (2002). West Nile virus outbreak in horses, southern France, 2000: results of a serosurvey. Emerg Infect Dis, 8(8), 777-782. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid0808.010486

Publication

Emerging infectious diseases
ISSN: 1080-6040
NlmUniqueID: 9508155
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 8
Issue: 8
Pages: 777-782

Researcher Affiliations

Durand, Benoit
  • Agence Français de Sécurité Sanitaire des Aliments, Maisons-Alfort, France. bdurand@afssa.fr
Chevalier, Véronique
    Pouillot, Régis
      Labie, Jacques
        Marendat, Ingrid
          Murgue, Bernadette
            Zeller, Hervé
              Zientara, Stéphan

                MeSH Terms

                • Age Factors
                • Animals
                • Antibodies, Viral / blood
                • Birds
                • Carrier State / veterinary
                • Carrier State / virology
                • Communicable Diseases, Emerging / blood
                • Communicable Diseases, Emerging / epidemiology
                • Communicable Diseases, Emerging / veterinary
                • Disease Outbreaks / veterinary
                • Female
                • France
                • Health Surveys
                • Horse Diseases / blood
                • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
                • Horse Diseases / virology
                • Horses
                • Immunoglobulin G / blood
                • Logistic Models
                • Male
                • Time Factors
                • West Nile Fever / blood
                • West Nile Fever / epidemiology
                • West Nile Fever / veterinary
                • West Nile virus / isolation & purification

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                This article includes 16 references
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                Citations

                This article has been cited 24 times.
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