West Nile virus (WNV) is a zoonotic mosquito-transmitted arbovirus belonging to the genus Flavivirus in the family Flaviviridae. It is a positive-sense, ssRNA virus and causes West Nile fever, that affects birds, humans and horses causing inapparent infection, mild febrile illness, meningitis, encephalitis, or death. The arbovirus is maintained in nature by cycling through birds and mosquitoes.WNV also causes sporadic disease in other species including squirrels, chipmunks, bats, dogs, cats, white-tailed deer, reindeer, sheep, alpacas, alligators and harbour seals. Dromedary camel has also been implicated as a possible source for the viral infection.
For many avian species, WNV infection causes no overt signs while other birds, such as American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) and blue jays (Cyanocitta cristata), often succumb to fatal systemic illness. Most species of birds can become infected with WNV, however, the clinical outcome of infection is variable. Some species appear resistant while others such as American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) and blue jays (Cyanocitta cristata) suffer fatal neurologic disease.
Clinical signs of WNV infection in horses arise from viral-induced encephalitis or encephalomyelitis. Affected horses frequently demonstrate mild to severe ataxia. Some horses exhibit weakness, muscle fasciculation, and cranial nerve deficits.
Brain and spinal cord are the preferred tissues for virus isolation from horses. Bird tissues generally contain higher concentrations of virus than equine tissues. In birds, kidney, heart, brain, liver or intestine can yield virus isolates.
Samples should be transported at 4°C. Tissue must be sent in RNA preservative media.
Turn Around Time (TAT)
Normal Turnaround time for pathogen Identification is within 5 working days. Urgent Samples will be reported within half of the minimum test period & will be Charged Double.
Samples delivered after 11:00 AM will be processed next working day unless urgent.
West Nile virus (WNV) is a zoonotic mosquito-transmitted arbovirus belonging to the genus Flavivirus in the family Flaviviridae. It is a positive-sense, ssRNA virus and causes West Nile fever, that affects birds, humans and horses causing inapparent infection, mild febrile illness, meningitis, encephalitis, or death. The arbovirus is maintained in nature by cycling through birds and mosquitoes.WNV also causes sporadic disease in other species including squirrels, chipmunks, bats, dogs, cats, white-tailed deer, reindeer, sheep, alpacas, alligators and harbour seals. Dromedary camel has also been implicated as a possible source for the viral infection.
For many avian species, WNV infection causes no overt signs while other birds, such as American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) and blue jays (Cyanocitta cristata), often succumb to fatal systemic illness. Most species of birds can become infected with WNV, however, the clinical outcome of infection is variable. Some species appear resistant while others such as American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) and blue jays (Cyanocitta cristata) suffer fatal neurologic disease.
Clinical signs of WNV infection in horses arise from viral-induced encephalitis or encephalomyelitis. Affected horses frequently demonstrate mild to severe ataxia. Some horses exhibit weakness, muscle fasciculation, and cranial nerve deficits.
Brain and spinal cord are the preferred tissues for virus isolation from horses. Bird tissues generally contain higher concentrations of virus than equine tissues. In birds, kidney, heart, brain, liver or intestine can yield virus isolates.
Samples should be transported at 4°C. Tissue must be sent in RNA preservative media.
Turn Around Time (TAT)
Normal Turnaround time for pathogen Identification is within 5 working days. Urgent Samples will be reported within half of the minimum test period & will be Charged Double.
Samples delivered after 11:00 AM will be processed next working day unless urgent.
