Equine Encephalosis in Israel
Coincidentally, just after writing my post on the concerns about the potential effects of climate change on diseases like African horse sickness (AHS), ProMED-mail posted a report about equine encephalosis (EE) virus in horses in Israel. This virus was first identified in South Africa in the 1960's. The most common signs of illness associated with the EE virus are high fever, decreased appetite, swelling (edema) of the lips and eyelids, and high respiratory and heart rates. Neurological disease and abortion can also occur. Most horses recover uneventfully with supportive treatment (i.e. no antiviral medications) but fatal infections can occur.
Equine encephalosis virus is an orbivirus like the virus that causes AHS. The EE and AHS viruses are transmitted by the same type of insects - midges of the Culicoides family. As discussed in my other recent post, there is growing concern that AHS will re-emerge in Europe because the closely related disease of ruminants, Bluetongue, is now common in some areas that were previously free of the disease. Since all three of these diseases are closely related and involve the same insect vectors, it is logical to conclude that there may be a risk of both AHS and EE viruses reaching Europe, potentially resulting in widespread outbreaks, and eventually establishing themselves as endemic diseases.
Image from http://www.nationalinsectweek.co.uk/gbbu.php
