Serologic prevalence of Sarcocystis neurona, Toxoplasma gondii, and Neospora caninum in horses in Brazil.
OBJECTIVE
To determine serologic prevalence of Sarcocystis neurona, Toxoplasma gondii, and Neospora caninum in horses in Brazil.


METHODS
Prevalence survey.


METHODS
101 Thoroughbreds in Brazil.


METHODS
Blood samples were obtained from horses and tested for serum antibodies against S neurona by use of an immunoblot procedure with culture-derived S neurona merozoites as antigen, and for serum antibodies against T gondii and N caninum by use of a modified agglutination test with formalin-preserved tachyzoites and mercaptoethanol.


RESULTS
Antibodies against S neurona and T gondii were detected in 36 and 16 of 101 horses, respectively. Cross-reactivity between antibodies against T gondii and S neurona was not detected. Antibodies against N caninum were not detected in any samples.


CONCLUSIONS
The high prevalence of antibodies against S neurona detected in clinically normal horses emphasizes the importance of examining CSF for antibodies when establishing a diagnosis of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis.
Dubey
J P
JP
Parasite Biology and Epidemiology Laboratory, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, MD 20705-2350, USA.
Kerber
C E
CE
Granstrom
D E
DE
D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006736:Horses; D008297:Male; D018688:Neospora / Q000276:immunology*; D012522:Sarcocystis / Q000276:immunology; D012523:Sarcocystosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology*
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan