As of July 13, 2015, Eastern equine encephalitis has been confirmed in two East Texas horses from separate facilities by the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory in College Station, according to agency officials. The horses were in Newton and Orange counties.
Recumbency - A symptom of EEE in horses
Symptoms of Easter equine encephalitis include fever, sleepy appearance, muscle twitches in head, neck, shoulder and flanks, a staggering gait and recumbency.
© 2015 by Carien Schippers
The Orange County case is approximately 10 miles from an eastern equine encephalitis, which occurred in 2014. As a reportable zoonotic disease, the Texas Department of State Health Services and the Texas Animal Health Commission were made aware of the positive test results.
Three new cases of EEE were also confirmed in Washington, Putnam and Polk Counties in Florida. All three horses were adults between 5 and 7 years old and had not traveled within the past 6 months.
Two of the horses were previously unvaccinated and were euthanized due to poor prognosis at time of initial exam. The third horse had been vaccinated in the past but not within the last year.
The 6 year old miniature was still standing but lethargic and had cranial verve deficits according to the treating DVM. Supportive care was being given for the fifth day since clinical signs occurred.
This is the first occurrence for Washington county and the second occurrence for Polk and Putnam counties for the 2015 calendar year.
Human infection with eastern equine encephalitis, commonly known as EEE, is relatively infrequent in the U.S.
EEE virus attacks the central nervous system and unvaccinated horses are very susceptible to the infection. The disease appears within five days after a mosquito transmits the virus to the horse. Onset of clinical symptoms are abrupt and infected horses often die within three days.
Symptoms of Easter equine encephalitis include fever, sleepy appearance, muscle twitches in head, neck, shoulder and flanks, a staggering gait and recumbency.
The fatality rate is 90% or higher and an animal that survives the disease may have brain damage.
Other diseases and poisoning may have similar symptoms. It is important that a speedy diagnosis is made. A veterinarian can take blood samples to send to a diagnostic laboratory.