Todayโs path rounds are on ๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐ฏ๐ข๐ซ๐ฎ๐ฌ!
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐ฏ๐ข๐ซ๐ฎ๐ฌ is a type of ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฏ๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐ซ๐ฎ๐ฌ. Although the virus was first discovered in Africa, it has since spread around the world, causing numerous outbreaks.
๐๐ก๐จ ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
This virus primarily affects humans, horses and birds!
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
West Nile virus is spread by mosquitoes. In most cases, the mosquitoes are spreading the virus between different birds, however occasionally the virus ends up in a mammal, such as a horse. Once the virus is injected into the body by the mosquito, it enters the bloodstream and spreads to the brain and spinal cord, causing disease.
๐๐ก๐ฒ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ?
West Nile virus likes to infect the brain and spinal cord, causing ๐ง๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐จ๐ฅ๐จ๐ ๐ข๐ ๐ฌ๐ข๐ ๐ง๐ฌ such as ๐๐ญ๐๐ฑ๐ข๐ (uncoordinated gait), weakness, and even collapse. Many animals die once infected. In birds, the virus also likes to set up shop in the heart, causing a ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐จ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐ฌ (inflammation of the heart muscle).
๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐ง๐จ๐ฌ๐๐?
Diagnosis involves demonstrating viral genetic material in the tissues, particularly in the brain and heart.
๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐๐? ๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฏ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐?
Unfortunately there is no specific treatment for West Nile. Some animals may recover on their own with supportive care. Vaccines are available for horses, and in some cases these vaccines are used to vaccinate birds. Other preventative measures include reducing local mosquito populations through removing stagnant water or using mosquito repellents.
๐๐ก๐จ๐ญ๐จ๐ฌ
1-2) Hemorrhage in the spinal cord of horses infected with West Nile.
3) A heart from a bird with West Nile, showing multiple pale areas of inflammation.
4-5) Inflammatory cells taking up residence in the brain and cardiac muscle in a bird with West Nile.
๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐๐ฌ
Maxie, G. Jubb, Kennedy and Palmerโs Pathology of Domestic Animals, Volume 1. Sixth Edition.
Photos 1-5 ยฉ Noahโs Arkive contributor Williams, Yin licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.