title: West Nile virus infection in cats: ABCD guidelines on prevention and management.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  West Nile virus (WNV) is a zoonotic mosquito-borne virus with a broad host range that infects mainly birds and mosquitos, but also mammals (including humans), reptiles, amphibians and ticks. It is maintained in a bird-mosquito-bird transmission cycle. The most important vectors are bird-feeding mosquitos of the Culex genus; maintenance and amplification mainly involve passerine birds. WNV can cause disease in humans, horses and several species of birds following infection of the central nervous system.
  Cats can also be infected through mosquito bites, and by eating infected small mammals and probably also birds. Although seroprevalence in cats can be high in endemic areas, clinical disease and mortality are rarely reported. If a cat is suspected of clinical signs due to an acute WNV infection, symptomatic treatment is indicated.
authors.forename: Herman
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Egberink
authors.forename: Diane D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Addie
authors.forename: Corine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boucraut-Baralon
authors.forename: Tadeusz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Frymus
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gruffydd-Jones
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hartmann
authors.forename: Marian C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Horzinek
authors.forename: Margaret J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hosie
authors.forename: Fulvio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marsilio
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lloret
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lutz
authors.forename: Maria Grazia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Pennisi
authors.forename: Alan D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Radford
authors.forename: Etienne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Thiry
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Truyen
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Möstl
mesh_terms: D000827:Animal Welfare / Q000592:standards*; D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D002415:Cats; D003465:Culex; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000662:veterinary; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors; D014730:Veterinary Medicine / Q000592:standards; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D014902:West Nile virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*