louping ill (redirected from Louping ill virus)

louping ill

an acute encephalomyelitis affecting mostly sheep and red grouse (Lagopus scoticus), but occasionally other domestic animals and humans, caused by a flavivirus and transmitted by Ixodes ricinus. Clinically it is notable as a syndrome of fever, a peculiar bounding (louping) gait, paralysis and convulsions. Viruses that are closely related to louping-ill virus, and that cause very similar disease but in different regions of the world, include Russian spring-summer encephalitis virus, Turkish sheep encephalitis virus, Spanish sheep encephalitis virus and Greek goat encephalomyelitis. Called also ovine encephalomyelitis.