[RC] More on WNV from VetMed, wolves, dogs, squirrels - Maryanne Stroud Gabbani
The posts that I've forwarded seem to indicate that for some reason
squirrels seem to be susceptible to WNV, just as hawks, owls, and crows. In
dogs, wolves and humans, a compromised immunity seems to be the over-riding
factor.
FWIW.
Maryanne Stroud Gabbani
Cairo, Egypt
maryanne@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
www.ratbusters.net
Date: Tue 17 Sep 2002
From: John J. Andrews <jandrews@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Illinois: West Nile Virus in Squirrels, Wolf and a Dog
- ------------------------------------------------------
Squirrels:
In the last several weeks we have identified West Nile virus (WNV)
infection in several grey squirrels in both the Chicago area and in
down-state Illinois. The clinical signs in the grey squirrels
included lethargy, biting at their paws, vocalizing or crying out as
if in pain, ataxia, and walking in circles. Reports of similar signs
in squirrels have been received since mid-summer 2002. The primary
lesions in the squirrels were those of a viral encephalitis with mild
myocarditis. The presence of WNV in the brain and spinal cord of at
least 3 squirrels was confirmed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in our
laboratory, and by PCR in 2 other laboratories within the state
(Public Health and DNR).
Further investigations of additional squirrels from other parts of
the state are in progress in cooperation with and support from the
Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Public Health.
Wolf:
In addition, WNV encephalitis was identified in a 3-month-old wolf
from a small zoologic collection in the southwest Chicago area. This
animal exhibited clinical CNS symptoms and was confirmed by IHC, and
PCR by 3 different laboratories.
Dog:
An 8-year-old dog from central Illinois exhibited weakness which
progressed to neurologic and cardiac signs over a 4-day period and
was euthanized in a moribund state. This animal had histologic
changes of a viral encephalitis and myocarditis. WNV infection was
again confirmed in 3 different laboratories by IHC, and PCR methods.
There was also evidence in this dog of a concurrent immune-mediated
disease.
Conclusions:
We are unaware of previous reports of documented clinical disease and
death losses in grey squirrels, wolves, and dogs due to WNV in the
US. We believe that the wolf and dog cases probably represent a
sporadic occurrence in young or immunocompromised animals. The
multiple occurrences in the grey squirrel population appears to be a
significant infection and cause of death for that species.
- --
John J. Andrews
Director & Professor of Pathology
Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
University of Illinois
Urbana, IL
<jandrews@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
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