Encephalitis caused by louping ill virus in a group of horses in Ireland.
An outbreak of LI infection in a group of free range horses is described. Three of 4 horses displayed signs of CNS disturbance and 2 of these died after illnesses ranging from 2-12 days duration. In both cases a variable degree of viral polioencephalomyelitis was observed. A virus antigenically indistinguishable from a reference strain of LI virus was isolated from the brain and cervical cord of a 3 y.o. draft mare. Serum samples obtained from 3 of the horses contained HI, CF, precipitating and neutralising antibodies to LI virus, with a rise in antibody titre being demonstrated in 2 animals.
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D004669:Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004683:Encephalomyelitis, Equine / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006736:Horses; D007494:Ireland; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology