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  Discussion on Purchase of 4 month old with past hx of west nile
Author Message
Member:
Corinne

Posted on Sunday, Oct 30, 2005 - 11:34 am:

A friend asked me what I thought about (not for me) purchasing a 4 month old foal who the current owner states has had West Nile Virus because it was not vaccinated, but is asymptomatic for any diseases at this time.
She explained that the current owner said the foal presented with ataxia and was treated for West Nile Virus, inpatient for 10 days at the local clinic. When the foal was discharged, the ataxia remained so he was brought back to the clinic for reevaluation. At that time the vet said it was a misdiagnosis (by his clinic, as some times happens in medicine) and the foal had not had WNV. I presume he did do all the appropriate serological tests to rule out WNV and all other Non WNV disease, but can not, nor does the potential buyer know this information, state that for a fact.
The foal does not show any symptoms at this point and appears to be healthy. Understandably, she does not want to get attached to this animal and then down the road have him present with further neurological symptoms.
In reading all the WNV posts and your research piece on WNV, the prognosis for WNV is good in terms that they usually do not have permanent damage, but once again, WNV was ruled out....and am hoping all other non WNV diseases were too.
The only opinion I could offer from a lay person's point of view is that, if it was determined that the disease was not west nile, than it had to be something else, regardless if it was ever determined what caused the ataxia. Once again, assuming that all the appropriate serological testing was done to r/o other Non-WNV diseases and they came back negative, I would not want to chance buying a young horse with that history without a definitive diagnosis on what caused the condition. I think she is leaning more towards that opinion too and doesn't think bringing the horse to her vet to evaluate the cause of the ataxia will be beneficial because he is experiencing no symptoms at this time and it’s a long trip down to the other vet’s clinic. I was wondering, what anyone else at HA thought? Would anyone buy a new foal with a history of ataxia of an undetermined cause?

This lady has years of experience with young horses as does her Pre-vet daughter if she makes the purchase.

Any information you could provide would be great as this is all a learning process and any new equine health information I can get my hands is readily absorbed.

Have a great weekend.

v/r
Corinne Meadows
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Oct 31, 2005 - 7:19 am:

Is it possible that this early episode may increase the chance of problems later? Hmmm...though not a usual presentation, cervical instability might present early on with episodic ataxia that can worsen over time. Viral encephalitis may have permanent very low grade ataxia that cannot be seen until under saddle.

The decision to buy depends on your goals, resources, and a concept of risk vs value. Without a diagnosis it is difficult to define the risk. This differs between individuals so everyone would come to different conclusions with the same set of facts.
DrO
Member:
Corinne

Posted on Monday, Oct 31, 2005 - 10:17 am:

Sir,
Thanks....she had decided not to buy this horse because it's tough enough being a horse owner when you know the past history, let alone unexplained medical conditions.
I appreciate the information.....

V/r
Corinne
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