Since the emergence of West Nile virus (WNV) in North America in 1999, there have been several reports of WNV activity in Central and South American countries. To detect WNV in Brazil, we performed a serological survey of horses from different regions of Brazil using recombinant peptides from domain III of WNV. Positive samples were validated with the neutralisation test. Our results showed that of 79 ELISA-positive horses, nine expressed WNV-specific neutralising antibodies. Eight of the infected horses were from the state of Mato Grosso do Sul and one was from the state of Paraíba. Our results provide additional evidence for the emergence of WNV in Brazil and for its circulation in multiple regions of the country.

Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o perfil e a distribuição da síndrome cólica em eqüinos de três unidades militares no Estado do Rio de Janeiro, o Regimento Escola de Cavalaria (REsC), a Academia Militar das Agulhas Negras (AMAN) e o Esquadrão Escola de Cavalaria (EEC). No período entre 2003 e 2004, 770 eqüinos foram acompanhados para a ocorrência de casos clínicos de cólica. Realizou-se análise descritiva dos dados, e foram calculadas a taxa de incidência de cólica e a proporção de eqüinos acometidos. O teste do χ2 foi utilizado para avaliar a associação entre síndrome cólica e variáveis relativas às características dos eqüinos e do manejo. A incidência variou entre as unidades militares, 0,12 na AMAN, 0,21 no EEC e 0,95 casos/eqüino-ano no REsC, sendo acometidos 15% dos eqüinos da AMAN, 30% do EEC e 69% do REsC. A maior incidência foi de episódios de origem gástrica, 76,5%. Casos de reincidência foram elevados, sendo 62,5% no REsC, 36,7% na AMAN e 29,0% no EEC. A síndrome cólica estava significativamente associada às variáveis unidade militar, sistema de criação, quantidade de grãos ingerido e suplemento mineral-vitamínico. As altas incidências, reincidências e proporção de animais acometidos observadas ocorreram de forma diferenciada nas três unidades, indicando que, apesar de possuírem como característica comum pertencerem a unidades militares, os eqüinos formam um grupo heterogêneo no que diz respeito à ocorrência de síndrome cólica, provavelmente devido às diferentes condições de manejo.

This research aimed to verify the profile and distribution of colic syndrome in horses of three military units in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which were Regimento Escola de Cavalaria (REsC), Academia Militar das Agulhas Negras (AMAN), and Esquadrão Escola de Cavalaria (EEC). From 2003 to 2004, 770 horses were followed up for the incidence of colic cases. A descriptive analysis of clinical data, incidence of colic cases and rate of horses affected was established. Chi-squared test was used to evaluate the association among colic syndrome and variables related to horses characteristics and management. Colic syndrome incidence varied among military units as follows: 0.12 cases/horse-year at AMAN, 0.21 at EEC and 0.95 at REsC, affecting 15% of horses in AMAN, 30% in EEC and 69% in REsC. The highest incidence was of gastric episodes (76.5%). Recurrence cases were 62.5% in REsC, 36.7% in AMAN and 29.0% in EEC. Colic syndrome occurred associated with variables: military unit, management, amount of intake grains and supplemented mineral-vitamin. High incidence, recurrence and horses rate with colic were differentiated among the three units. Although the horses of military units had common characteristic , they formed a heterogeneous group in respect to colic syndrome occurrence, probably due to different management conditions.