Kentucky animal health officials have confirmed the commonwealth’s second case of equine West Nile virus (WNV) in 2012, according to a statement from Kentucky Equine Programs Manager E.S. "Rusty" Ford.

The affected horse–an 18-year-old Tennessee Walking Horse gelding from Laurel County–had no WNV vaccination history, Ford’s statement said. The horse began to show signs of disease on the night of Aug. 6, when he exhibited mild ataxia (incoordination) that worsened throughout the following day, the statement said. On Aug. 8, the horse became recumbent and disoriented, at which point he was euthanized.

Ford’s statement said that PCR test results confirmed the diagnosis on Monday (Aug. 13) evening.

Officials confirmed Kentucky’s first equine WNV case of 2012 on Aug. 3; the affected horse–an unvaccinated yearling Thoroughbred filly from Henderson County–was euthanized Aug. 1

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