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Japanese encephalitis in a racing thoroughbred gelding in Hong Kong
Author(s) -
Lam K. H. K.,
Ellis T. M.,
Williams D. T.,
Lunt R. A.,
Daniels P. W.,
Watkins K. L.,
Riggs C. M.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
veterinary record
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.261
H-Index - 99
eISSN - 2042-7670
pISSN - 0042-4900
DOI - 10.1136/vr.157.6.168
Subject(s) - genotype , horse , encephalitis , virology , population , biology , japanese encephalitis , vaccination , virus , serology , veterinary medicine , medicine , immunology , gene , genetics , antibody , environmental health , paleontology
A horse in Hong Kong that had been vaccinated against Japanese encephalitis suffered a pyrexic episode that culminated in a hyperexcitable state and self‐inflicted trauma. Japanese encephalitis was diagnosed on the basis of clinical, pathological and serological observations, and confirmed by the detection of genomic sequences of the virus in spinal cord tissue. Phylogenetic analyses of E gene and NS5‐3’UTR sequences revealed divergent clustering of these segments with previously described genotypes, suggesting the possibility that the horse might have been infected with a recombinant between genotype I and genotype II viruses. Horses are considered to be dead‐end hosts for the disease, but the occurrence of an infected horse in a population may have implications for the health status of the national herd. The effect that this case had on the horse industry in Hong Kong is discussed with specific reference to the movement of horses and the vaccination programme for Japanese encephalitis.