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Horsetalk.co.nz Horse owners urged to vaccinate to reduce toll of West Nile virus
Greater efforts are needed to encourage Kentucky’s horse owners to vaccinate against West Nile virus if continued losses from the infection are to be reduced or even eliminated, Professor Peter Timoney says.
Until 1999, West Nile virus was unknown in the Western Hemisphere, much less the United States.
In August of that year, the virus was identified in New York City and caused the deaths of seven persons from viral encephalitis (brain inflammation).
Coincidentally, the virus was also implicated in the death of birds in New York’s Bronx Zoo and crows in the precincts of the zoo.
It is not surprising that equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) is so well adapted to infect horses.
Professor Peter Timoney, with the Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center at the University of Kentucky, says EHV-1 is believed to have co-evolved with horses over millions of years.
This co-evolutionary relationship resulted in the development of a life-long carrier state in a high percentage of infected horses. This involves viral latency (silent infection) of various sites (the trigeminal ganglia in the central nervous system, respiratory lymphoid tissues, and CD3+ T lymphocytes in the blood).
Latency ensures the perpetuation of EHV-1 by serving as a virus reservoir for infection and dissemination in susceptible populations.
Monumental Task Ahead Of Us : Scheeler Elected Chairperson Of Horseracing Integrity And Safety Authority Board - Horse Racing News paulickreport.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from paulickreport.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.