A review of Sarcocystis neurona and equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM).
Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) is a serious neurological disease of horses in the Americas. The protozoan most commonly associated with EPM is Sarcocystis neurona. The complete life cycle of S. neurona is unknown, including its natural intermediate host that harbors its sarcocyst. Opossums (Didelphis virginiana, Didelphis albiventris) are its definitive hosts. Horses are considered its aberrant hosts because only schizonts and merozoites (no sarcocysts) are found in horses. EPM-like disease occurs in a variety of mammals including cats, mink, raccoons, skunks, Pacific harbor seals, ponies, and Southern sea otters. Cats can act as an experimental intermediate host harboring the sarcocyst stage after ingesting sporocysts. This paper reviews information on the history, structure, life cycle, biology, pathogenesis, induction of disease in animals, clinical signs, diagnosis, pathology, epidemiology, and treatment of EPM caused by S. neurona.
United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Animal and Natural Resources Institute, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, MD 20705-2350, USA. jdubey@anri.barc.usda.gov
J P
JP
Dubey
D S
DS
Lindsay
W J
WJ
Saville
S M
SM
Reed
D E
DE
Granstrom
C A
CA
Speer
D000818:Animals; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002415:Cats; D004679:Encephalomyelitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology*; D006736:Horses / Q000469:parasitology; D008018:Life Cycle Stages; D012889:Mephitidae / Q000469:parasitology; D008907:Mink / Q000469:parasitology; D009893:Opossums / Q000469:parasitology; D010041:Otters / Q000469:parasitology; D011821:Raccoons / Q000469:parasitology; D012522:Sarcocystis; D012523:Sarcocystosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D046048:Seals, Earless / Q000469:parasitology
D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents