Therapeutics for Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis.
Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis is an infectious disease of the central nervous system caused by Sarcocystis neurona or Neospora hughesi. Affected horses routinely present with progressive and asymmetrical neurologic deficits. The diagnosis relies on the presence of neurologic signs, ruling out other neurologic disorders, and the detection of intrathecally derived antibodies to either S neurona and/or N hughesi. Recommended treatment is use of an FDA-approved anticoccidial drug formulation. Medical and supportive treatment is provided based on the severity of neurologic deficits and complications. This article focuses on recent data related to diagnosis, pharmacologic treatment, and prevention.
Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA. Electronic address: npusterla@ucdavis.edu.
Nicola
N
Pusterla
Department of Toxicology and Cancer Research, The Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, College of Agriculture, University of Kentucky, 1400 Nicholasville Road, Lexington, KY 40506, USA.
Thomas
T
Tobin
D000818:Animals; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004679:Encephalomyelitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology*; D006736:Horses; D018688:Neospora / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012522:Sarcocystis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012523:Sarcocystosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*
D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents
Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM); Neospora hughesi; Prevention; Sarcocystis neurona; Treatment