title: Short report: serological evidence of West Nile virus activity in El Salvador.
abstract: Epizootics of encephalitis in El Salvador killed 203 equines between November 2001 and April 2003. During an investigation of the outbreaks, 18 (25%) of 73 serum samples collected from stablemates of deceased animals in 2003 had antibodies to West Nile virus. Ten of these infections were confirmed by plaque reduction neutralization tests, suggesting West Nile virus has extended its range and spread to Central America.
authors.affiliation: Field Epidemiology Training Program, Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare, San Salvador, El Salvador.
authors.forename: Lilian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.forename: Victor M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Cardenas
authors.forename: Mauricio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abarca
authors.forename: Tito
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.forename: Roberto Flores
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Reyna
authors.forename: Mario V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Serpas
authors.forename: Robert E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Fontaine
authors.forename: David W C
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Beasley
authors.forename: Amelia P A Travassos
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Da Rosa
authors.forename: Scott C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Weaver
authors.forename: Robert B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Tesh
authors.forename: Ann M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Powers
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Suarez-Rangel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary*; D004544:El Salvador / Q000453:epidemiology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D006736:Horses; D006801:Humans; D012621:Seasons; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*