Comparison of prevalence factors in horses with and without seropositivity to Neospora hughesi and/or Sarcocystis neurona.
Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis is a commonly diagnosed neurological disease of horses in North America and is caused by infection with Sarcocystis neurona or Neospora hughesi. The aim of this study was to compare prevalence factors among horses seropositive or seronegative to N. hughesi and/or S. neurona. A total of 3123 submissions were included in the study, with horses originating from 49 States. Thirty-eight animals from 21 States tested seropositive for N. hughesi only, 840 horses from 40 States were seropositive for S. neurona only, 25 horses from 14 States were seropositive for both protozoa, and 2220 horses from 49 States tested seronegative for both parasites. Significant associations were found between geographical location (State), month of submission, breed and serological status.
Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA. Electronic address: npusterla@ucdavis.edu.
Nicola
N
Pusterla
The William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
Eva
E
Tamez-Trevino
Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
Alexandria
A
White
Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
Joshua
J
Vangeem
Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
Andrea
A
Packham
Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
Patricia A
PA
Conrad
Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
Philip
P
Kass
D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004679:Encephalomyelitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect / Q000662:veterinary; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D006736:Horses; D018688:Neospora / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015995:Prevalence; D012522:Sarcocystis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan
Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis; Neospora hughesi; Prevalence factors; Sarcocystis neurona