title: West Nile virus encephalomyelitis in horses in Ontario: 28 cases.
abstract: West Nile virus encephalomyelitis was diagnosed in 28 horses presented to the Ontario Veterinary College Veterinary Teaching Hospital between August 20 and October 15, 2002. The age range of affected horses was 5 months to 20 years (mean 6.9 years, median 6 years). Clinical signs were highly variable. Duration of hospitalization ranged from < 1 to 12 days (mean 5 days, median 5.4 days). Overall, 16 of the 28 (57%) horses were discharged and, of the 14 from which follow-up information was available, 13 (93%) were reported to be clinically normal 4 to 6 weeks following discharge, while the other horse had markedly improved. This pathogen is emerging as an important cause of neurological disease in Canada.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1. jsweese@uoguelph.ca
authors.forename: J Scott
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Weese
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Baird
authors.forename: Josepha
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: DeLay
authors.forename: Daniel G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Kenney
authors.forename: Henry R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Staempfli
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Viel
authors.forename: Joane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Parent
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Smith-Maxie
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Poma
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary*; D004679:Encephalomyelitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D006736:Horses; D008297:Male; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D014902:West Nile virus / Q000472:pathogenicity