Short report: serological evidence of West Nile virus activity in El Salvador.
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.
Cruz
Lilian
L
Field Epidemiology Training Program, Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare, San Salvador, El Salvador.
Cardenas
Victor M
VM
Abarca
Mauricio
M
Rodriguez
Tito
T
Reyna
Roberto Flores
RF
Serpas
Mario V
MV
Fontaine
Robert E
RE
Beasley
David W C
DW
Da Rosa
Amelia P A Travassos
AP
Weaver
Scott C
SC
Tesh
Robert B
RB
Powers
Ann M
AM
Suarez-Rangel
Gloria
G
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*