 |
|
New and improved test for West Nile virus in horses
August 20, 2008A new test for West Nile virus in horses that could be modified for use on humans and wildlife may help track the spread of the disease, according to an article in the September issue of the Journal of Medical Microbiology.
West Nile virus infects a wide range of animals, including humans, horses, dogs, cats, bats, squirrels, rabbits and birds. It is widely distributed in Africa, the Middle East and Europe. It was first reported in North America in 1999, when there were human fatalities in New York City. Since its arrival in the USA it has spread rapidly across the continent. The virus sometimes causes swelling of the brain, or encephalitis, which can be fatal. It is transmitted by several species of mosquito. Because the mosquitoes feed on so many different creatures the virus spreads quickly in areas where it has been introduced.
"Thousands of cases of West Nile virus have been reported worldwide, but 80% of infected people don't show any symptoms," said Dr Louis A Magnarelli, Director of The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station in the USA. "It is important to have highly sensitive and specific tests to diagnose infections and also to help track the ecology and epidemiology of West Nile encephalitis."
The US researchers have found that a new test designed to detect antibodies produced by horses is highly effective at diagnosing West Nile virus infections. Compared to the standard test for West Nile virus, the new test is much faster and gives accurate results. It was also useful in confirming past infections.
"Although the methods developed are for diagnosing West Nile virus in horses, the procedures can be easily modified to develop new antibody tests for humans and wildlife," said Dr Magnarelli. "It is essential to test wildlife for infection to determine the ecological and epidemiological aspects of West Nile virus infections in nature so that we can try to control the disease by managing mosquito populations."
Diagnosing West Nile encephalitis in ill horses helps to identify areas where the virus is spreading and to make decisions about vaccinating horses. Laboratory diagnosis can also clarify the cause of undiagnosed neurological disorders.
"We tested 43 privately owned horses for the infection. The results showed that none of the horses with undiagnosed illnesses had been infected prior to the 1999 outbreak of West Nile virus in Connecticut, USA," said Dr Magnarelli. "This kind of information is useful in confirming the epidemiology of the virus; determining when it arrived in certain areas and how it spreads."
Society for General Microbiology
The US researchers have found that a new test designed to detect antibodies produced by horses is highly effective at diagnosing West Nile virus infections. Compared to the standard test for West Nile virus, the new test is much faster and gives accurate results. It was also useful in confirming past infections.
"Although the methods developed are for diagnosing West Nile virus in horses, the procedures can be easily modified to develop new antibody tests for humans and wildlife," said Dr Magnarelli. "It is essential to test wildlife for infection to determine the ecological and epidemiological aspects of West Nile virus infections in nature so that we can try to control the disease by managing mosquito populations."
Diagnosing West Nile encephalitis in ill horses helps to identify areas where the virus is spreading and to make decisions about vaccinating horses. Laboratory diagnosis can also clarify the cause of undiagnosed neurological disorders.
"We tested 43 privately owned horses for the infection. The results showed that none of the horses with undiagnosed illnesses had been infected prior to the 1999 outbreak of West Nile virus in Connecticut, USA," said Dr Magnarelli. "This kind of information is useful in confirming the epidemiology of the virus; determining when it arrived in certain areas and how it spreads."
Society for General Microbiology
West Nile Virus Current Events and West Nile Virus News RSSWest Nile's North American spread described
The rapid spread of West Nile virus in North America over the past decade is likely to have long-lasting ecological consequences throughout the continent, according to an article in the November issue of BioScience.
Researchers Examine Evolution of Genes that Trigger the Body's Immune Response to Viral Infection
Virginia Commonwealth University Institute of Molecular Medicine researchers have traced the evolutionary origin of two genes that serve as primary cellular sensors of infection with RNA viruses, such as influenza, poliovirus, West Nile virus, and HIV, which may ultimately provide researchers with insight into a possible new pathway for the development of innate immunity.
New CU-Boulder study shows diversity decreases chances of parasitic disease
A new University of Colorado at Boulder study showing that American toads who pal around with gray tree frogs reduce their chances of parasitic infections known to cause limb malformations has strong implications for the benefits of biodiversity on emerging wildlife diseases.
Study: Bird diversity lessens human exposure to West Nile Virus
A study by biologists at Washington University in St. Louis shows that the more diverse a bird population is in an area, the less chance humans have of exposure to West Nile Virus (WNV).
Common insecticide can decimate tadpole populations
The latest findings of a University of Pittsburgh-based project to determine the environmental impact of routine pesticide use suggests that malathion--the most popular insecticide in the United States--can decimate tadpole populations by altering their food chain, according to research published in the Oct. 1 edition of Ecological Applications.
No more big stink: Scent lures mosquitoes, but humans can't smell it
Mosquito traps that reek like latrines may be no more. A University of California, Davis research team led by chemical ecologist Walter Leal has discovered a low-cost, easy-to-prepare attractant that lures blood-fed mosquitoes without making humans hold their noses.
Groundbreaking research shows DEET's not sweet to mosquitoes
Spray yourself with a DEET-based insect repellent and the mosquitoes will leave you alone. But why? They flee because of their intense dislike for the smell of the chemical repellent and not because DEET jams their sense of smell, report researchers at the University of California, Davis.
Plastics suspect in lobster illness
The search for what causes a debilitating shell disease affecting lobsters from Long Island Sound to Maine has led one Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) visiting scientist to suspect environmental alkyphenols, formed primarily by the breakdown of hard transparent plastics.
Diversity among bird populations found to reduce threat of West Nile virus
A biologist and undergraduate student have discovered that what's good for an area's bird population is also good for people living nearby.
New West Nile and Japanese encephalitis vaccines produced
University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston researchers have developed new vaccines to protect against West Nile and Japanese encephalitis viruses. The investigators created the vaccines using an innovative technique that they believe could also enable the development of new vaccines against other diseases, such as yellow fever and dengue fever, which are caused by similar viruses.
More West Nile Virus Current Events and West Nile Virus News Articles
 | West Nile Virus (Deadly Diseases and Epidemics) by Jeffrey N. Sfakianos Often a serious illnes, West Nile Virus seems to arise as a seasonal epidemic in North America, beginning in the summer and continuing into the... |
 | West Nile Virus - A Medical Dictionary, Bibliography, and Annotated Research Guide to Internet References by ICON Health Publications In March 2001, the National Institutes of Health issued the following warning: "The number of Web sites offering health-related resources grows every day. Many sites provide valuable information, while others may have information that is unreliable or misleading." Furthermore, because of the rapid increase in Internet-based information, many hours can be wasted searching, selecting, and... |
| Surveillance for West Nile virus in clinic-admitted raptors, Colorado.(DISPATCHES)(Disease/Disorder overview): An article from: Emerging Infectious Diseases by Nicole Nemeth, Gail Kratz, Eric Edwards, Judy Scherpelz, Richard Bowen, Nicholas Komar This digital document is an article from Emerging Infectious Diseases, published by Thomson Gale on February 1, 2007. The length of the article is 2246 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.Citation... | |
| Home range and habitat use by American Crows in relation to transmission of West Nile virus.: An article from: Wilson Bulletin by Sarah A. Yaremych, Robert J. Novak, Arlo J. Raim, Phil C. Mankin, Richard E. Warner This digital document is an article from Wilson Bulletin, published by Wilson Ornithological Society on September 1, 2004. The length of the article is 4283 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.From the... | |
 | West Nile Virus (Diseases and Disorders) by Melissa Abramovitz West Nile virus had never been seen in the Western Hemisphere before 1999. Now, it's everywhere in the United States. Find out more about this new health threat and what's being done about it.... |
| West Nile virus activity--United States, 2006.(Report): An article from: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report by N.P. Lindsey, J.A. Lehman, E.B. Hayes, R.S. Nasci, N. Komar, L.R. Petersen This digital document is an article from Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, published by Thomson Gale on June 8, 2007. The length of the article is 2029 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.Citation... | |
| West Nile virus detection in urine.(DISPATCHES): An article from: Emerging Infectious Diseases by Jessica H. Tonry, Craig B. Brown, Cecil B. Cropp, Juliene K.G. Co, Shannon N. Bennett, Vivek R. Nerurkar, Timothy Kuberski, Duane J. Gubler This digital document is an article from Emerging Infectious Diseases, published by U.S. National Center for Infectious Diseases on August 1, 2005. The length of the article is 2295 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any... | |
| Just for fun.(West Nile Virus spraying): An article from: Synthesis/Regeneration by Don Fitz This digital document is an article from Synthesis/Regeneration, published by WD Press on March 22, 2003. The length of the article is 554 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.Citation DetailsTitle: Just for... | |
| Responding to the Public Health Threat of West Nile Virus: Joint Hearing Before the Committee on Governmental Affairs, U.s. Senate | |
| West Nile virus predicted to hit western U.S. hard. (Similar Conditions to Last Year's Scourge).: An article from: Pediatric News by Betsy Bates This digital document is an article from Pediatric News, published by International Medical News Group on June 1, 2003. The length of the article is 1405 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.Citation... |
| © 2008 BrightSurf.com |