Ridecamp: [RC] Canine WNV - don't use repellents

Date: Wed 18 Sep 2002
From: Gerald L Hoff, PhD, FACE <Gerald_Hoff@xxxxxxxx>
Source: St Louis Post-Dispatch, Wed 18 Sep 2002 [edited]

Illinois: Dog's death is first Associated With West Nile Virus Infection
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The nation's first death of a dog from West Nile virus infection has
been confirmed in Illinois. Researchers at the University of Illinois
at Urbana-Champaign said on Tue 17 Sep 2002 that they also found that
the disease had killed 2 other types of animals: a wolf and 3
squirrels brought in for testing.

The deaths are the latest evidence that the mosquito-borne virus --
known to kill humans, horses and birds -- is becoming more
widespread. Epidemiologists previously thought that dogs could be
infected with the virus, but that the disease wouldn't kill them. "Up
until this point, we didn't think there was much need for concern
with dogs," said Dr. John Andrews, a veterinarian and director of the
University's Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. Still, there's no need
to fret about every Fido and Rover. The dog that died, an 8-year-old
Irish setter-golden retriever mix from the Bloomington-Normal area,
already had a weakened immune system from another illness, Andrews
said. "We still think dogs are quite resistant," he said. "This being
the first reported case in a dog suggests that there has been a large
number infected, and only this one has died."

The federal Centers for Disease Control has registered at least 1540
human cases, including 71 deaths. Horses and birds, especially crows,
blue jays, and hawks, are particularly sensitive to the disease.
"We've said all along that all mammals are susceptible, because we
give off carbon dioxide, which is what attracts the mosquito to us,"
said Roberta Renicker, a community health nurse in the Missouri
Department of Health and Senior Services' communicable disease
control section. Missouri has not tested for or found the virus in
mammals other than humans and horses, she said. The CDC's Web site
said Tue 17 Sep 2002 that disease from West Nile virus infection in
dogs had not been previously documented.

The veterinary lab at the University of Illinois also confirmed that
West Nile virus killed 3 gray squirrels: 2 from Chicago and one from
Champaign. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources sent the dead
animals for testing after officials suspected an outbreak among the
state's squirrel population. "We've been getting reports for the last
several weeks of unusual signs: squirrels biting their paws, wobbling
on their feet, walking in circles, vocalizing, crying out as if in
pain," Andrews said. The number of squirrels may dip temporarily, but
Andrews said he did not expect the population to be decimated.

A private zoo in Will County, southwest of Chicago, submitted a dead
wolf for testing. As with the dog, the owner wanted an autopsy to see
why the animal died, but didn't initially suspect West Nile virus,
Andrews said. For both the dog and the wolf, researchers at the
veterinary lab first eliminated the possibility that the animals died
of common canine diseases, such as distemper or rabies. Researchers
then detected the West Nile virus in the animals' tissue. Blood serum
tests are not available for living dogs, Andrews said, so the only
way to tell if West Nile is the culprit is by a post-mortem exam.
Andrews suggested that owners of very young or old dogs, or dogs with
an existing illness, may want to take extra precautions. He suggested
keeping such dogs inside during dawn and dusk hours when mosquitoes
are most active, or shrouding their outdoor pens with mosquito
netting.

Dogs are still believed to be fairly resistant to illness from the
virus. No cat deaths from the virus have been reported. Owners of
young, old, or sick dogs may want to keep their pets indoors during
dawn and dusk hours. Do not apply insect repellent to dogs; it can
poison them if they lick it.

[Byline: Sara Shipley]

- --
Gerald L Hoff, PhD, FACE
Epidemiologist & Manager
Office of Epidemiology & Health Research
Kansas City, Missouri, Health Department
<Gerald_Hoff@xxxxxxxx>

Maryanne Stroud Gabbani
Cairo, Egypt
maryanne@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
www.ratbusters.net 

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