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Volume 21, Number 12—December 2015
Dispatch

Sindbis and Middelburg Old World Alphaviruses Associated with Neurologic Disease in Horses, South Africa

Stephanie van Niekerk, Stacey Human, June Williams, Erna van Wilpe, Marthi Pretorius, Robert Swanepoel, and Marietjie VenterComments to Author 
Author affiliations: University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa (S. van Niekerk, S. Human, J. Williams, E. van Wilpe, M. Pretorius, R. Swanepoel, M. Venter); US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Pretoria, South Africa (M. Venter).

Main Article

Table 1

Prevalence of neurologic and febrile cases of MIDV and SINV infections in horses, South Africa, 2008–2013*

Alphavirus results 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Total
MIDV
Specimens, no. 76 50 137 166 107 100 636 (100)
PCR+, no. (% of total specimens) 0 1 (2) 10 (7) 26 (16) 4 (4) 3 (3) 44 (7)
Deaths, no. (% of no. PCR+) NA 0 2 (50) 7 (27) 3 (75) 0 12 (27)
Detected in CNS, no. (% of no. PCR+) NA 0 0 6 (23) 0 0 6 (14)
Neurologic disease, no. (% of no. PCR+) NA 1 7 (70) 16 (62) 4 (100) 2 (67) 30 (68)
Fever only, no. (% of no. PCR+) NA 0 6 (60) 5 (19) 2 (50) 0 13 (30)
Co-infections, no. and type NA 0 1 SHUV, 1 EEV 1 WNV,† 1 EEV, 1 AHSV† 0 0 2 EEV, 1 ASHV,† 1 SHUV, 1 WNV†
SINV
Specimens, no. 76 50 137 166 107 100 636
SINV+, no. (% of total specimens) 2 (3) 4 (8) 0 0 1 (1) 1 (1) 8 (1)
Deaths, no. (% of no.+) 0 (0) 2† (50) NA NA 1 (100) 0 3 (38)
Detected in CNS, no. (% of no.+) 2 (50) NA NA 0 NA
Neurologic disease, no. (% of no.+) 1 (50) 2 (50) NA NA 1 (100) 0 4 (50)
Fever only, no. (% of no.+) 1 (50) 2 (50) NA NA 0 1 (100) 4 (50)
Co-infections, no. and type 1 EEV, 1 AHSV 2 WNV† NA NA 0 0 1 EEV, 1 AHSV, 2 WNV†

*AHSV, African horse sickness virus; CNS, central nervous system sample; EEV, equine encephalosis virus; MIDV, Middelburg virus; NA, not applicable; SHUV, Shunivirus; SINV, Sindbis virus; WNV, West Nile virus; –, undetectable in central nervous system sample; +, positive.
†Fatal cases with co-infections.

Main Article

Page created: November 17, 2015
Page updated: November 17, 2015
Page reviewed: November 17, 2015
The conclusions, findings, and opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors' affiliated institutions. Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by any of the groups named above.
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