The Kentucky State Veterinarian’s office today (Aug. 30) confirmed the sixth case of West Nile virus in the state this year. A 6-year-old Belgian gelding in Christian County was euthanatized due to complications of the disease, noted Rusty Ford, Equine Programs Manager in the state veterinarian’s office. The gelding had not been vaccinated. Onset of clinical signs was Aug. 23.

Of the six Kentucky cases confirmed this year, none were vaccinated, and five of the animals either died or were euthanatized. The Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s web site will be updated to reflect these additional cases–visit www.kyagr.com.

West Nile virus (WNV) was first identified in October 1999 in New York. Clinical signs for WNV include:

• Flu-like signs, where the horse seems mildly anorexic and depressed.
  
• Fine and coarse muscle and skin fasciculations (twitching).
  
• Hyperesthesia, or hypersensitivity to touch and sound.
  
• Changes in mentation (mentality), when horses look like they are daydreaming or “just not with it.”
  
• Occasional somnolence (drowsiness).
  
• Propulsive walking (driving or pushing forward, often without control).
  
• “Spinal” signs, including asymmetrical weakness. Some horses show asymmetrical or symmetrical ataxia (incoordination on one or both sides, respectively).

Other signs include paralysis of the lips, facial muscles, or tongue. Some victims also have a head tilt and difficulty swallowing