Disease Alerts

The Ohio Department of Agriculture confirmed the twelfth, thirteenth and fourteenth horses with West Nile Virus (WNV) in 2018. On August 25, 2018 an 8-year-old Standardbred gelding from Trumbull County was noticed to have an unsteady gait. The unvaccinated horse was recumbent and unable to rise on August 26th. Due to the poor prognosis, the owner opted to euthanize the horse on August 26th. This is the first horse to test positive for WNV in Trumbull County. A 21-year-old Hackney pony gelding from Coshocton County had a sudden onset of ataxia. Other signs included facial muscle fasciculations and a fever on August 18^th. The horse was not vaccinated against WNC and due to the poor prognosis the owner opted to euthanize the horse on August 23rd. This was the first horse to test positive for WNV in Coshocton in 2018. On August 22^nd12-year-old mare Paint mare from Holmes County was ataxic with whole body tremors and appeared neurologic with grinding of the teeth. The horse was treated and appears to be recovering as of September 6th. The horse was not vaccinated against WNV. Serum samples collected from all horses were sent to the National Veterinary Services Laboratory, and reports for all horses had an IgM capture ELISA titer of 1:400 or greater for WNV. For more information go to:  https://www.agri.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/oda/divisions/animal-health/home/