Two horses in Hamilton County and one each in Clermont and Boone counties have tested positive for West Nile virus, according to state health departments.

        Officials in Butler and Warren counties are investigating at least three other cases, causing horse owners in the Tristate to become increasingly wary.

        The mosquito-borne illness, which causes neurological problems and can be fatal, has spread to at least 37 states, infecting birds, horses and humans.

        Although no preventative shot is ready for use on humans, a vaccine is available for horses. Dr. Dave Kraushar of Agri-Pet Veterinary Service in Ross Township is recommending its use after tending to a Butler County horse that was suspected of contracting the virus.

        The animal became so ill, he said, it had to be euthanized Friday.

        Although little tested, the vaccine's initial results appear promising, he said. “Hopefully it's a preventable disease (among horses),” Dr. Kraushar said. “We're not sure because there hasn't been enough data collected on this vaccine.”

        His client, Lisa Frisby, 38, of Withrow Road in Wayne Township, said she now regrets hesitating to vaccinate her horses.

        She recounted how her beloved 13-year-old mare, Lacy, suffered from a suspected case of West Nile before she was put down.

        “It was the most horrendous thing I've ever watched an animal go through,” Ms. Frisby said Saturday. “She would stiffen her legs, throw her head up in the air and just slam it to the ground. We tried so hard to save her, but nothing helped.”

        Another one of her horses, a 19-year-old gelding Appaloosa named Playboy, has exhibited some of the same symptoms Lacy did, including difficulty walking.

        Test results on both horses should be known in about a week.

        Meanwhile, Dr. Kraushar is treating Playboy with anti-inflammatory medication for suspected West Nile infection. Ms. Frisby is optimistic that the horse, a wedding gift from her husband, will recover. She said that Dr. Kraushar indicated about 65 percent of infected horses do survive.

        Meanwhile, a Warren County stable is awaiting test results on a horse boarded there.

        Ms. Frisby acknowledged that she and many other horse owners had been advised to get their animals vaccinated. But she was reluctant to do so for several reasons.

        First, there was concern about possible side effects from the relatively new vaccine, Ms. Frisby said.

        Second, she thought her animals had little chance of contracting West Nile. The exceptionally dry summer, she said, kept mosquito populations in check.

        Ms. Frisby implored horse owners to get their animals vaccinated.

        “This could have been stopped for a $27 shot per horse,” she said. “Maybe what happened to (Lacy) will save other horses.”

Putting money on the banks
Ripoff-front stadium? Not to diehard fans
River Front game a classic
Advance improves new limbs
Crackdown begins on teen drivers
Drugs, cash found in home after man shot
Local observatory gets historical marker
Obituary: George Hovekamp, businessman
Obituary: Graham Hunt, avid outdoorsman
Officials: Missing teen likely dead
Public gets say on plans
Tristate A.M. Report
West Nile virus hits local horses
BRONSON: Truth matters
HOWARD: Some Good News
PULFER: Christopher Reeve
SMITH AMOS: The new West High
Cincinnati Christian grows two campuses
Cops cite alcohol sales to minors
Dry, hot weather may drain the color from fall's foliage
OSU patient joins leukemia drug trial
Doctors return home to fill gap
Pols teeing off on privatization