West Nile Virus is a viral disease that affects the central nervous system of vertebrates, such as humans and horses. The virus is able to quickly replicate and spread throughout the body. In humans, those that are at most risk are those who are elderly and those who are immunocompromised. In horses, those that are at most risk are unvaccinated adults or older horses. Although a vast majority of infected humans and horses present no signs of disease, if clinical signs develop, oftentimes they include flu-like symptoms, such as a fever, and neurological symptoms, such as convulsions or seizures, as the disease progressively worsens. Through research and observation it has been shown that West Nile Virus affects both humans and horses in a …show more content…
According to Emilie Donadieu and colleagues, once initial inoculation occurs, the virus replicates within the skin, specifically attacking keratinocytes, neutrophils within the dermis, & Langerhans cells of the dermal layer (Donadieu 8). In the article West Nile Virus: Biology, Transmission, and Human Infection, it is stated that in humans: “virus replication has been shown to persist in the skin for at least 14 days post-inoculation” (Colpitts 3). As the virus replicates within the skin it then will travel to nearby lymph nodes (Donadieu 8). Once the virus replicates enough where it reaches lymph nodes closest to the site of inoculation, it then travels through the lymphatic vessels, which aids in transmission into the bloodstream (Donadieu 8). Once in the bloodstream the virus travels throughout the body, specifically to the liver, kidneys, and spleen where it will continue to replicate (Donadieu 8). From personal prior knowledge: the liver metabolizes organisms from the blood as well as synthesizes proteins for blood clotting; the main function of the spleen is to filter the blood to maintain the health of the immune system; lastly, the kidneys filter blood and aid with metabolizing nutrients and removing waste from the blood. In both humans and horses, once the virus has entered the bloodstream and …show more content…
According to Tonya Colpitts and associates, through some research it has shown that the virus has the ability to infect macrophages, which help facilitate the virus across the blood brain barrier where it can then begin causing neurological symptoms (Colpitts 5). Yet, according to the article written by Emilie Donadieu and colleagues, “the mechanisms by which West Nile Virus enters the central nervous system is not fully understood” (Donadieu 9). Not enough research has been done to confirm the hypothesis that it is most likely that the virus affects the central nervous system via the blood brain barrier, which helps to protect the brain from pathogens and being exposed to immune mediation or activation (Donadieu 9-10). I it is known however, that once the virus crosses the blood brain barrier it leads to neuronal death via lesions on the brain (Donadieu 6). Neurological symptoms seem to develop more frequently in horses than in humans. According to the article written by Antoine Garwah, 1 in 150 infected people develop severe symptoms of the virus, which include but are not limited to: high fever, headache, stupor, tremors, seizures or convulsions, and paralysis (Garwah 2). Meanwhile, according to the Merck Manual article, West Nile Encephalomyelitis in Horses, approximately 10-39% of infected horses show signs and the neurological signs
West Nile Virus has emerged in recent years throughout the temporate zones of Europe and North America. Causing a variety of conditions in its hosts, the most serious manifestation of WN virus infection is fatal encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) in humans and horses, and many birds.
West Nile Virus has many effects on the human body as well as on the bodies of other animals. West Nile is an extremely dangerous virus that attacks the Central Nervous System. It can cause inflammation of tissues in and around the brain and spinal cord. In humans, there are three levels of West Nile Virus, which have different symptoms. Humans can also get specific diseases such as encephalitis from West Nile Virus. West Nile Virus also affects animals. Wild birds and horses are the most susceptible to the virus and most animal deaths occur in these species. Dogs and cats are much less likely to contract the disease. The only way for a human or animal to get the disease is to be bitten by a mosquito
The West Nile Virus is a virus that people can get from an infected mosquito bite. This virus disappeared and no one heard much of many people getting the virus for about 20 years. In the 1990´s there was a big comeback on the rise for the West Nile Virus. That also consisted of the infected bugs slowly but surely making their way to America from Africa, the Native country to this virus (Phillip).
Lower return crops such as corn, wheat, cotton and rice will bear the brunt of this whereas the higher return crops such as nuts, citrus and vine crops will be least affected (Kowalski, 2015).
The main point of the press release is to notify the public that the West Nile Virus has surfaced and is active. One of the sub-points is to inform the public of the current case and the number of cases over the years of people who have been infected with the West Nile Virus. Another sub-point is to give the description and signs of the West Nile Virus. Another sub-point is to notify the public where the West Nile Virus is coming from. Another sub-point what is causing the mosquitoes to breed and how to prevent the breeding of the mosquitoes to notify the public that there are two types of West Nile Virus. The West Nile encephalitis and the West Nile poliomyelitis are the two viruses the press release also notified the public of the signs and symptoms of the west Nile virus. What to do and who to contact once bitten the press release gives a statistic of number of cases from 2002 to 2011 (2012). The press release also notifies the public who is at the highest risk to becoming ill with this type of virus. The press release also gives other website to seek out more information regarding the West Nile Virus.
Case Description- A 3 month-old Boer cross buck kid was confirmed to have died from an infection of Eastern Equine Encephalitis in a rural county of North Florida. Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis and Rabies were included in the list of deferential diagnoses as possible causes of neurologic symptoms that could occur in adolescent caprine.1,5 PCR analysis of fresh brain tissue preformed at Department of Health in Tampa, Florida (via the Bronson Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory in Kissimmee, Florida) showed positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis, then positive by virus isolation. The sample was negative for West Nile Virus, and the fluorescent antibody test for Rabies was negative.
In year 2013, CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) get report of 2605 cases as regards to noticeable arboviral disease, comprising those caused through 2469 cases of WNV (West Nile Virus), 85 cases of LACV, 22 cases of JCV, 8 cases of EEEV, and 15 cases of POWV, and cases of few other diseases. These cases were stated from 26 percent (830) among the 3141 nations of U.S., no cases were stated from Hawaii or Alaska. The WNV virus is having majority of cases from all other cases. Therefore, it is measured as a vital or serious disease. (Nicole P. Lindsey, 2014)
What is West Nile Fever? West Nile fever also known as West Nile virus is a mosquito borne disease transferred from mosquito to person. Encephalitis is a disease that West nile virus can cause. What encephalitis does is it causes inflammation of the brain which in some cases can be fatal. The west Nile virus wasn’t discovered until 1937 in Africa. The disease didn’t make its way into the United States until 1999. The Virus is most common during the summer months (July- September) which is when mosquitos the carrier of the disease are most active. But in some states it is at risk all year round. Most people who are bitten and infected even receive the virus.
West Nile Virus has been carried from one country to the next with the main conclusion that it
The vaccination process would not be a simple administered injection because of the underlying fact that each mosquito can potentially transmit a different type of west nile virus lineage. The vaccine would have to be specific to that west nile virus lineage, as transmitted per mosquito. In the ideal clinic, a blood sample of an infected individual would be collected and analyzed for the formation of antibodies against the specific virus lineage. This would ensure that that the correct virus lineage would be targeted in the vaccine. The proteins to be further administered with the west nile vaccine would originate from a serum sample collected afterwards with the specific virus strain. Multiple intravenous and intradermal injections of the plasmid DNA proposed vaccine
Lyme disease-induced AIWS. Binalsheikh and his colleagues (2012) observed by a seven-year-old boy with AIWS associated with Lyme disease. The boy was admitted to the hospital when he tested positive Lyme disease and was monitored via video electroencephalogram (VEGG) for 36 hours. Although Lyme disease is commonly accompanied by headache, myalgia, numbness and facial nerve palsy, the boy only reported events of micropsia and telopsia where he perceived that his body was becoming smaller, and where he perceived the letters in the book he was reading as becoming smaller and farther away. After receiving intravenous treatment for Lyme disease, the boy did not experience any symptoms associated with AIWS. From this case study, Binalsheikh and
West Nile virus is found on every continent except Antarctic. “West Nile virus was first isolated in Uganda in 1937 from the blood of a native Ugandan woman, and until the end of the 20th century was considered a cause of viral encephalitis limited only in Africa and Asia.” It did not become a global concern until 1999 when it was introduced to North America.in New York City Hundreds to thousands of cases before 1996 were mostly in rural populations and were rarely severe. The primary host of West Nile virus is avian species, birds. Other infected organisms can include humans and other mammals with horses being the most common. The main way the disease is transmitted is through a bite of infected mosquitoes, specifically Culex species. The virus may also be transmitted between individuals through blood transfusions, organ transplantations, and although rare it can be transmitted from the mother to newborns either through intrauterine route or breast-feedings. West Nile virus can be dived into seven genetic lineage strains. “Lineage one is the most widespread, containing isolate found in Europe, North America, Asia, Africa, and Australia… Lineage two strains are mainly distributed in Sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar, but in the last decade they have been introduced in Europe. Lineage three contains a strain
The West Nile Virus, which originated in Africa, is a deadly disease typically transmitted by mosquitoes to humans and mammals. However, the virus can also cycle between humans and birds. A small number of cases have been transmitted through blood transfusions, organ transplants, being exposed in a lab, and a mother to baby during pregnancy, delivery or breastfeeding.
W. C., . . . Petersen, L. R. (2003). Transmission of west nile virus from an organ
Although throughout history only about 2% of humans infected happened to be fatal, the other 98% suffered through a wide variation of symptoms that focused on different aspects of the body1. In humans, Rift Valley fever can have an incubation period of 2 to 6 days with some patients showing no signs and a majority of the others suffering from flu-like symptoms, such as vomiting, headaches, limb pains, and diarrhea2. These minor symptoms can last from 2 to 7 days before the patient’s adaptive immune response is implemented and begins its fight against the virus, followed by a complete, or nearly complete, recovery2,3. Though these symptoms seem like common ailments that exist everywhere today and are practically harmless in the long run, Rift Valley fever has the potential to turn them into a lifelong nuisance.