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West Nile VirusAre Your Pets At Risk?
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With all the media attention on the West Nile virus (WNV), many pet owners are wondering about the risk to their pets. Take a sigh of relief. Cats and dogs, for the most part, are safe. First, a little history: the West Nile virus was first discovered in Uganda in 1937. It has since been identified as endemic in Africa, Eastern Europe, West Asia and the Middle East. WNV was first isolated in New York City in 1999 and has made a rapid march across the United States. The CDC reports in 2002 there were over 4000 human cases of WNV in 44 states. More than 14,000 horses developed the disease with more than 25 percent dying from it. Already in 2003, 28 states have reported WNV in birds, horses, or the mosquitoes themselves, and one human case in South Carolina. West Nile is a Flavivirus, closely related to Japanese Equine Encephalitis and St. Louis Encephalitis. Mosquitoes that feed on an infected bird and then bite a human or other animal transmit it. Except for some bird to bird transmission, there have been no documented cases of direct person-to-person, bird-to-person, animal-to-animal, or animal-to-person infection. Horses and other equids: Next to birds, horses are the most susceptible to WNV, and about 25 to 30 percent of those infected will die from encephalitis (brain inflammation). Since the virus primarily affects the brain and nerves, symptoms (similar to rabies and other encephalitis diseases) may include behavioral change, hyper-responsiveness to sound or touch, twitching or muscle tremors, stumbling and falling or circling. The more serious cases progress to seizures and death. Because it's a virus, there's no cure, but many can survive with supportive treatment to control seizures and ensure proper hydration and nutrition. Horses that live through the second to third week of infection generally recover fully with no long-term side effects. The good news for owners of horses, donkeys, mules and other equids is there's a vaccine to protect them. The vaccine must be administered in two - three injections, two to six weeks apart. And full immunity won't develop for several weeks after the second injection. Dr. Linda Logan, Texas' state veterinarian advises owners to further protect equids with insect repellents and, if possible, house them at night in stalls with screens. The vaccine also requires a yearly booster. If you haven't vaccinated your horses yet, do it now. Pet birds: While there have not been many cases of pet birds with WNV, the potential for infection certainly exists. Over 100 species of birds have tested positive, including a Cockatiel, a Cockatoo and a Budgerigar (parakeet). Birds housed indoors are at little risk, but those housed outdoors should be protected with screens or mosquito netting, especially from dusk to dawn. According to the Oklahoma State Department of Health, some zoos are conducting experimental trials with avian vaccination, using the vaccine for horses. However, the effectiveness of the vaccine and optimal dose and method of administration are not yet known. And, recently there have been reports of possible bird deaths from the vaccine. Dogs and Cats: Canines and felines can become infected with WNV, but appear to be resistant to developing disease. As in humans, most that are infected will show no symptoms and will recover just fine without you ever knowing they had it. The most at risk are young, old and animals with compromised immune systems. A study of dogs in Queens, NY (1999) showed that 5-11 percent of dogs tested had been exposed to the virus, but none of the dogs' owners reported that their pets had been ill. The virus was found in one New York stray cat that died. But it isn't clear if the cat died from the disease or another ailment. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign reports that in 2002 an eight-year-old golden retriever mix and a three-month-old wolf died from WNV. The retriever had another illness that had weakened its immune system, but no such illness was observed in the wolf. If your dog or cat develops neurologic disease symptoms, such as confusion, incoordination, head tilt, muscle weakness or spasms, seizures or paralysis, a veterinarian should evaluate it as soon as possible. The more likely causes of illness should be considered first. The best way to protect your pets from West Nile is to limit the time they spend outdoors, particularly from dusk to dawn. You may also want to ask your vet about appropriate flying insect repellents. Do not use a repellent with DEET on your pet. Other animals: A variety of other animals have shown symptoms of neurologic disease and have tested positive for WNV. These are rare findings but have included a pet rabbit, raccoons, squirrels, chipmunks, skunks, a few bats and a black bear. Chickens can be infected, but seldom show clinical signs of the disease, though manifestation of disease has been reported in domestic geese, ducks and pigeons. An alligator farm in the Southern U.S. lost some 300 animals to the disease. And in Africa and Eurasia, infections have been documented in sheep, cattle and pigs. Most were without clinical signs, and the animals developed antibodies to the virus. However, some sheep in laboratory studies, exhibited fever, abortion and encephalitis. Llamas and alpacas have also been reported with WNV infection, and a few have died. Studies are ongoing on the use of the equine vaccination in camelids. If you have an animal with West Nile virus, remember there are no documented cases of animal-to-person or animal-to-animal transmission. Even so, normal hygienic precautions, such as wearing gloves and washing hands after handling it should be observed. How do you protect your family and animals from West Nile Virus?
Centers For Disease Control New York State Department of Health Oklahoma State Health Department ProMed Digest The American Veterinary Medical Association U. S. Geological Survey University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Back to Features |
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Eastern Equine EncephalitisHealth officials are concerned that we're headed for a bad year in southern and eastern states, with Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). |
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