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equine encephalitis |
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equine encephalitis (ē`kwīn ĕnsĕf'əlī`tĭs), infectious disease of horses caused by any of several viruses, four of which—the Eastern, Western, Venezuelan, and St. Louis viruses—can also infect humans. The viruses, which begin their life cycles as parasites of wild birds, are transferred to horses, and from horses to humans, in the salivary glands of mosquitos. The symptoms of equine encephalitis include fever, drowsiness, and incoordination, often followed by paralysis and death. The mortality rate is 90%, usually within 2 to 3 days, in the most virulent, Eastern type; and as high as 50% in the Western type. The disease, for which no specific treatment is known, can be prevented by annual vaccination of horses. Equine encephalitis is a serious public-health problem in N South America. In 1991 the Eastern virus infected horses throughout much of the SE United States; five infections of humans occurred in Florida. In 1992 the virus was first identified in the Asian tiger mosquito, an aggressive feeder on both horses and humans, now found in some 20 states of the E United States.
BibliographySee H.-J. Wintzer, Equine Diseases (1986). equine encephalitis [′ē‚kwīn en‚sef·ə′līd·əs] (medicine) A disease of equines and humans caused by one of three viral strains: eastern, western, and Venezuelan equine viruses. Also known as equine encephalomyelitis. How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content. |
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| Everglades virus (EVEV), an alphavirus in the Venezuelan equine encephalitis complex, circulates among rodents and vector mosquitoes in Florida and occasionally infects humans. The lab ruled out the dread poultry diseases as well as eastern equine encephalitis. Negotiations of a cooperative research and development agreement with a government agency to develop three additional DNA vaccines, including equine encephalitis and ebola |
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