What are some West Nile virus symptoms for horses?

Answer 1

West Nile Virus usually has typical neurological symptoms. Such as an usual or weak gate, tremors, loss of coordination and balance. Initially though the horse may only be lethargic, have a fever, loss of appetite and a rapid pulse. It would be important to determine that these symptoms are not caused from other conditions such as Encephalitis and or EPM. Check out the related link below for more info.

Answer 2

Equine West Nile Virus (WNV) is becoming more common in the US. It produces an encephalitis or meningitis in horses. There is no cure at this time, so paliative and supportive treatment is recommended.

NOTE: WNV is zoonotic -- it can be transmitted to humans, usually via mosquito bites. Note that you can't get WNV from another human or a horse. Typically, the vector is that a mosquito gets it from a bird, and infects another animal.

Here's a quote of the symptoms from Ohio State U:"In horses that do become clinically ill, the virus infects the central nervous system and causes symptoms of encephalitis. Clinical signs of encephalitis in horses include loss of appetite and depression, in addition to any combination of the following signs - fever, weakness or paralysis of hind limbs, muscle fasciculations or muzzle twitching, impaired vision, ataxia (incoordination), head pressing, aimless wandering, convulsions, inability to swallow, circling, hyperexcitability, or coma."
Signs that could indicate that a horse is infected with the West Nile virus include: stumbling, weakness in hind limbs, inability to stand, listlessness and head shaking. However, some infected horses show no signs at all.
Symptoms that your horse has West Nile Virus include but are not limited to listlessness, stumbling, incoordination, weakness, and fever. However, in more susceptible horses, the virus leaves the bloodstream, crosses the blood brain barrier, and enters the brain. The virus then interferes with normal functioning of the central nervous system, causing inflammation of the brain that leads to severe clinical disease or death.

Answer 3

There are multiple causes of equine encephalitis, including viruses and even parasites. All cause neurological signs such as stumbling, lack of coordination, erractic behavior, inability to eat or swallow, drooping lips or eyebrows, etc. Those caused by viruses also cause fever.

Answer 4

Fever, paralsis in hind legs, and Inablity to swallow.

howrse answer: all of these