Edit page | Page history | Printable version

Equine encephalomyelitis

(Science: veterinary) An acute, often fatal, virus disease of horses and mules transmitted by mosquitoes and characterised by central nervous system disturbances.

It is typically caused by one of two arthropod-borne viruses, and their resulting diseases are designated western equine or eastern equine encephalomyelitis; these viruses belong to the family togaviridae and can also cause neurologic disease in humans.

Synonym: equine encephalitis.