By Erica Larson
TheHorse
Kentucky animal health officials have confirmed the commonwealth’s eighth case of equine West Nile virus (WNV), this time in Bourbon County, according to a statement from Equine Programs Manager E.S. “Rusty” Ford.
According to the statement, issued the evening of Aug. 27, a 15-month-old Standardbred filly was euthanized after developing clinical signs of WNV. Ford said the signs were first noted on Aug. 15 and included lethargy, pain and stiffness in her neck, and rear limb ataxia (in coordination, which began after about 24 hours of illness). The filly did not respond to treatment, Ford said, and was euthanized after the ataxia progressed into recumbency.
The filly had no WNV vaccination history. Ford noted in the statement that none of the animals with confirmed WNV cases in Kentucky this year were current on vaccinations.
