Abstract

West Nile Fever is a zoonotic disease caused by the West Nile virus, which belongs to the family Flaviviridae. The transmission happens due to the bite of mosquitoes Culex spp. and it was first recorded in West Africa, but time by time the virus spread to others continents. Equines have quite a predisposition for this pathology and birds are the main reservoir. Once within the organism, the pathogen starts to replicate until it gets to the central nervous system, which is when it triggers encephalitis, and the neurological symptoms begin. Histologically, it can present inflammation of the neuronal tissue, variable degrees of necrosis and gliosis, and in the necropsy no lesions could be found. The diagnose is made with the physical examination, serological analysis and PCR test. The treatment is supportive for infected patients.

Keywords: West Nile virus; Zoonosis; Vector; Fever