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

Abstract

Old World alphaviruses were identified in 52 of 623 horses with febrile or neurologic disease in South Africa. Five of 8 Sindbis virus infections were mild; 2 of 3 fatal cases involved co-infections. Of 44 Middelburg virus infections, 28 caused neurologic disease; 12 were fatal. Middelburg virus likely has zoonotic potential.

Keywords

• Alphaviruses
• Sindbis virus
• Middelburg virus
• horses
• neurologic disease
• RT-PCR