St. louis encephalitis virus (SLEV) is a type of
flavivirus that is similar to
West Nile virus (WNV), which are both members of the Japanese encephalitis antigenic complex. SLEV is widely distributed in the Americas, particularly South America. SLEV was first isolated in 1933 during a major epidemic in St Louis, Missouri, USA.
Transmission
SLEV is transmitted to horses by infected mosquitoes, and maintained in cycles between birds and
Culex mosquitoes. Horses and humans serve as the dead-end hosts of the virus.
Attention! This is a potentially life-threatening condition for your horse. Time is of the essence, contact your veterinarian immediately.Find a Vet
