Horse breeding from planning through foal care

Prevention and treatment for problems of the equine foot

Proper feeding practices for foals, adult horses, and older horses

Discussions about the welfare of our equine friends

Horse-heath-problem risk factors, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment

How to care for the basic health needs of horses

All aspects of caring for performance horses

Design and maintain a healthy horse operation

Prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of leg lameness

News and issues for equine health professionals

Cover Story

The Many Faces of Equine Metabolic Syndrome

Unveiling what EMD and ID really look like.

Also in this Issue

Post-Foaling Red Flags
HERDA 20 Years Later
Strangles: An Old Disease in a Modern World
Before She Foals: Managing Broodmares
Beneath the Hoof Wall: Soft Tissues Injuries of the Equine Foot

Latest Q&A

4 Ways to Boost Soil Health on Horse Farms

April 22, 2024

Q&As

Equine Behavior

Our animal behavior experts field your questions about why your horse does XYZ.

Horse Nutrition

Equine nutritionists respond to queries about forage, grain, supplements, and other related topics.

Performance Horse Health

Veterinarians and researchers tackle questions about equine athletes.

Featured Podcasts

Can PPID or EMS Affect My Horse’s Joints?

Methodologies for Assessing Horses' Quality of Life Needed

When Should I Retire My Horse From Riding?

Podcasts

Ask 'TheHorse' Live

The Horse’s experts answer your questions during a monthly live audio event.

Equine Innovators

Join us as we interview leading equine researchers from the University of Kentucky.

Fact Sheet: Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID)

Fact Sheet: Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM) in Horses

Free Reports:

View All Free Reports

Quick referenced of horse conditions, diseases and health topics

Forms

Checklists and identification forms for horse owners

WNV in Virginia Horses: Case Confirmed in Clarke County

November 2, 2018
Posted by Erica Larson

The affected horse—a vaccinated 8-year-old Holsteiner stallion—developed mild ataxia, prominent skin twitching, and moderate behavioral anxiety. He has since fully recovered.

Topics: Diseases and Conditions, Neurologic Disease, West Nile Virus (WNV)

Favorite

No account yet? Register

West Nile virus is transmitted to horses via bites from infected mosquitoes. | Photo: iStock

The Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) reported Nov. 1 that the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) confirmed another case of equine West Nile virus (WNV). This is the seventh case of WNV in Virginia horses confirmed so far this year, according to USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) data.

The affected horse—a vaccinated 8-year-old Holsteiner stallion from Clarke County—developed mild ataxia (incoordination), prominent skin twitching, and moderate behavioral anxiety on Oct. 13, the EDCC said. A serum sample was positive on the IgM Capture ELISA performed at the Cornell University Animal Health Diagnostic Center, in Ithaca, New York. The affected horse has fully recovered, the EDCC said.

In 2017 there was just one confirmed case of WNV in Virginia horses, according to APHIS data

Create a free account with TheHorse.com to view this content.

TheHorse.com is home to thousands of free articles about horse health care. In order to access some of our exclusive free content, you must be signed into TheHorse.com.

Start your free account today!

Already have an account?
and continue reading.

Written by:

Erica Larson

Erica Larson, former news editor for The Horse, holds a degree in journalism with an external specialty in equine science from Michigan State University in East Lansing. A Massachusetts native, she grew up in the saddle and has dabbled in a variety of disciplines including foxhunting, saddle seat, and mounted games. Currently, Erica competes in eventing with her OTTB, Dorado.