Detection of antibodies against Sarcocystis neurona in cerebrospinal fluid from clinically normal neonatal foals.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether antibodies against Sarcocystis neurona could be detected in CSF from clinically normal neonatal (2 to 7 days old) and young (2 to 3 months old) foals.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
15 clinically normal neonatal Thoroughbred foals.


METHODS
Serum and CSF samples were obtained from foals at 2 to 7 days of age and tested for antibodies against S. neurona by means of western blotting. Serum samples from the mares were also tested for antibodies against S. neurona. Additional CSF and blood samples were obtained from 5 foals between 13 and 41 days after birth and between 62 and 90 days after birth.


RESULTS
Antibodies against S. neurona were detected in serum from 13 mares and their foals; antibodies against S. neurona were detected in CSF from 12 of these 13 foals. Degree of immunoreactivity in serum and CSF decreased over time, and antibodies against S. neurona were no longer detected in CSF from 2 foals 83 and 84 days after birth. However, antibodies could still be detected in CSF from the other 3 foals between 62 and 90 days after birth.


CONCLUSIONS
Results indicate that antibodies against S. neurona can be detected in CSF from clinically normal neonatal (2 to 7 days old) foals born to seropositive mares. This suggests that western blotting of CSF cannot be reliably used to diagnose equine protozoal myeloencephalitis in foals < 3 months of age born to seropositive mares.
Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
Anne Grimsley
AG
Cook
Virginia Buechner
VB
Maxwell
Lydia L
LL
Donaldson
Nikola A
NA
Parker
Daniel L
DL
Ward
Jennifer K
JK
Morrow
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology; D006736:Horses; D007112:Immunity, Maternally-Acquired / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012522:Sarcocystis / Q000276:immunology*; D012523:Sarcocystosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013997:Time Factors
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan