West Nile virus infection in cats: ABCD guidelines on prevention and management

Herman Egberink, Diane D Addie, Corine Boucraut-Baralon, Tadeusz Frymus, Tim Gruffydd-Jones, Katrin Hartmann, Marian C Horzinek, Margaret J Hosie, Fulvio Marsilio, Albert Lloret, Hans Lutz, Maria Grazia Pennisi, Alan D Radford, Etienne Thiry, Uwe Truyen, Karin Möstl, European Advisory Board on Cat Diseases

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticleProfessional

    Abstract

    OVERVIEW: West Nile virus (WNV) is a zoonotic mosquito-borne virus with a broad host range that infects mainly birds and mosquitos, but also mammals (including humans), reptiles, amphibians and ticks. It is maintained in a bird-mosquito-bird transmission cycle. The most important vectors are bird-feeding mosquitos of the Culex genus; maintenance and amplification mainly involve passerine birds. WNV can cause disease in humans, horses and several species of birds following infection of the central nervous system.

    INFECTION IN CATS: Cats can also be infected through mosquito bites, and by eating infected small mammals and probably also birds. Although seroprevalence in cats can be high in endemic areas, clinical disease and mortality are rarely reported. If a cat is suspected of clinical signs due to an acute WNV infection, symptomatic treatment is indicated.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)617-619
    Number of pages3
    JournalJournal of Feline Medicine and Surgery
    Volume17
    Issue number7
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Jul 2015

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