The Equine Encephalitis Virus

            Eastern, Western, and Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus is an illness that is contractible between all equine animals (horses, donkeys, and zebras) and humans. Horses can spread this virus to humans. Humans, however, cannot spread this virus to animals; therefore, it is a direct zoonosis. Depending on whether the virus is Eastern, Western, or Venezuelan, it can be abbreviated as EEEV, WEEV, or VEEV. Another name for this virus is encephalomyelitis (VEE). This virus is classified as Togaviridae Alphavirus, and is a viral agent. Emus, ostriches, and swine can also contract this virus. The infection usually appears as hepatitis and or a gastro intestinal tract infection. .
             This virus can also be contracted by hamsters, apes, monkeys, rabbits, and guinea pigs.
             Bats and birds serve as the reservoir host for EEEV and WEEV. Horses and bats are the reservoir hosts for VEEV. In the reservoir host, the viral pathogen replicates and creates a high titer. The creation of a high titer makes the virus infectious for its vector, which is the mosquito. If humans contract the virus, they serve as an incidental host. Horses serve as an incidental host for EEEV and WEEV, but not VEEV. For VEEV, horses act as the reservoir species.
             If horses contract the disease, they can have multiple symptoms and signs of infection. For EEEV and WEEV, these symptoms include fever, a lack of appetite, and lethargy. The infected horse may also act somewhat bipolar, being extremely excited one minute and extraordinarily tired the next. In horses, this virus can result in paresis, seizures and (in extreme cases) coma. Symptoms in humans (if infected with this virus) include fever, headache, depression and nausea. If left untreated, these symptoms can result in altered mentation, paralysis, and sometimes coma. If children contract this virus, the effects may result in paralysis, mental retardation, and possibly a persistent seizure disorder.