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    Did You Know? Saskatchewan is the largest source of agricultural biomass in Canada. Livestock - Health West Nile Virus in Horses Updated: June 2005 There were no laboratory confirmed cases of West Nile Virus reported in Saskatchewan horses in 2004. Clinical Signs West Nile Virus clinical signs relate to the central nervous system, because the virus causes an encephalomyelitis or brain and spinal cord infection. Clinical signs include listlessness, depression, loss of appetite, stumbling and lack of coordination, weakness of limbs, muscle twitching, partial paralysis, inability to swallow, head pressing, inability to stand, convulsions and death. Fever may or may not be present. The clinical signs will progress from mild through to an inability to stand and death in a period of five to seven days. These clinical signs are easily confused with other nervous system disorders in the horse. Diseases to be considered when making a diagnosis include rabies, sleeping sickness, equine viral rhinopneumonitis, equine protozoal myeloencephalitis, and tetanus. All ages of horses are susceptible to the disease, although very young or very old horses, or horses already compromised by some other disease condition, are more likely to be affected. Prevention Other preventative measures centre on mosquito control. Where possible, stable horses at night in a barn with mosquito netting in place. Use insect sprays and repellents. Where permitted, burn smudges to reduce mosquito activity near your horses. Reduce the amount of tall vegetation around corrals and barns. And remove all sources of standing, stagnant water. For more information For more information about West Nile Virus in horses, see the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) website at http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/heasan/disemala/wnvvno/wnve.shtml For general information about West Nile Virus in the province, see the Saskatchewan Health website at www.health.gov.sk.ca/rr_wnv_info.html |
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