Fall, what a great time of the year!. Harvest; crisp,
clear days; new school year; frost and the passing of another
season of mosquitoes. This year, the disappearance of the
mosquitoes will be especially welcome as the vector of West
Nile virus spread will also be gone for a few
months. We’ve been busy with diagnosis of WNV primarily
in horses and birds, but with recent findings in other species,
we are receiving many suspected cases in other species.
From reports we have received from many practitioners, the
WNV vaccine appears to be very effective in preventing the
disease in horses and, although it has been reported in
other species, it appears that WNV will be of only occasional
consequence in species other than equine and avian. We
have drawn up a protocol for handling WNV suspects in the
Laboratories which will hopefully minimize the risk of exposure
to our pathologists, microbiologists, support staff and
students to the disease from animals and birds submitted
for diagnosis. Although WNV is reported to be of very limited
consequence in individuals with normal immune competence,
it can be a severe or lethal disease for people or animals
in immunity depressed status. The soon anticipated killing
frosts will temporarily eliminate the mosquito population
which is the primary means of transmitting the disease and
there are a lot of horses in our state that have been vaccinated
for the disease. We encourage all horse owners to vaccinate
their horses against WNV; though the occurrence of the disease
will no doubt be abated over the winter, it will be back
with us with the resumption of mosquito season next spring.
I expect the number of vaccinated horses in Indiana
to reduce the incidence of the disease in horses in 2003
though the numbers of susceptible birds will likely serve
as a viable reservoir for some time to come.
Although it is not in epidemic proportions, we should remain
cognizant of the ever present threat of rabies in our domestic
and wild animals. In our immediate area around West
Lafayette, we have recently had an
increase in the number of bats diagnosed with rabies. As
bat rabies is likely the most lethal form of rabies for
humans, this should be of concern and recognition.
Please note the new tests available in the ADDL. We are
excited about the offering of these new methods for more
rapid and definitive diagnostic means. Hope you have a
most enjoyable fall season; we are here to assist you with
your diagnostic needs.
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