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Article: Serologic evidence of West Nile virus infection in horses, Yucatan State, Mexico. (Dispatches).
- Article from:
- Emerging Infectious Diseases
- Article date:
- July 1, 2003
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 U.S. National Center for Infectious Diseases. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Serum samples were obtained from 252 horses in the State of Yucatan, Mexico, from July to October 2002. Antibodies to West Nile virus were detected by epitope-blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays in three (1.2%) horses and confirmed by plaque reduction neutralization test. We report the first West Nile virus activity in the State of Yucatan.
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West Nile virus (WNV) is a member of the Japanese encephalitis virus complex within the genus Flavivirus, family Flaviviridae (1). The virus is transmitted in natural cycles mainly between mosquitoes and birds, with humans and horses serving as incidental hosts (2). WNV was first isolated in 1937 ...