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Also known as: '''''EPM — Equine protozoal myelitis — Equine protozoal encephalomyelitis

 

| Also known as:

|'''EPM<br>

'''Equine protozoal myelitis<br>

'''Equine protozoal encephalomyelitis'''

 

==Description==

==Introduction==

A progressive, infectious,<ref name="Pasq">Pasquini, C, Pasquini, S, Woods, P (2005) '''Guide to Equine Clinics Volume 1: Equine Medicine''' (Third edition), ''SUDZ Publishing'', 245-250.</ref>neurological disease of horses, endemic in the USA<ref name="EPM8">Gray, L.C, Magdesian, K.G, Sturges, B.K, Madigan, J.E (2001) Suspected protozoal myeloencephalitis in a two-month-old colt.  ''Vet Rec'', 149:269-273.</ref> and only encountered elsewhere in equids that have travelled in the Americas.<ref name="EPM3">Vatistas, N, Mayhew, J (1995) Differential diagnosis of polyneuritis equi.  ''In Practice'', Jan, 26-29.</ref>  Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) is one of the most frequently diagnosed neurological conditions in the Western Hemisphere<ref name="Furr">Furr, M (2010) ''Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis'' in Reed, S.M, Bayly, W.M. and Sellon, D.C (2010) '''Equine Internal Medicine''' (Third Edition), ''Saunders'', Chapter 12.</ref> and the principal differential for multifocal, asymmetric progressive central nervous system (CNS) disease.<ref name="Pasq">Pasquini, C, Pasquini, S, Woods, P (2005) '''Guide to Equine Clinics Volume 1: Equine Medicine''' (Third edition), ''SUDZ Publishing'', 245-250.</ref>  The disease is not contagious.<ref name="Pasq">Pasquini, C, Pasquini, S, Woods, P (2005) '''Guide to Equine Clinics Volume 1: Equine Medicine''', (Third edition), ''SUDZ Publishing'', 245-250.</ref>

A progressive, infectious,<ref name="Pasq">Pasquini, C, Pasquini, S, Woods, P (2005) '''Guide to Equine Clinics Volume 1: Equine Medicine''' (Third edition), ''SUDZ Publishing'', 245-250.</ref>neurological disease of horses, endemic in the USA<ref name="EPM8">Gray, L.C, Magdesian, K.G, Sturges, B.K, Madigan, J.E (2001) Suspected protozoal myeloencephalitis in a two-month-old colt.  ''Vet Rec'', 149:269-273.</ref> and only encountered elsewhere in equids that have travelled in the Americas.<ref name="EPM3">Vatistas, N, Mayhew, J (1995) Differential diagnosis of polyneuritis equi.  ''In Practice'', Jan, 26-29.</ref>  Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) is one of the most frequently diagnosed neurological conditions in the Western Hemisphere<ref name="Furr">Furr, M (2010) ''Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis'' in Reed, S.M, Bayly, W.M. and Sellon, D.C (2010) '''Equine Internal Medicine''' (Third Edition), ''Saunders'', Chapter 12.</ref> and the principal differential for multifocal, asymmetric progressive central nervous system (CNS) disease.<ref name="Pasq">Pasquini, C, Pasquini, S, Woods, P (2005) '''Guide to Equine Clinics Volume 1: Equine Medicine''' (Third edition), ''SUDZ Publishing'', 245-250.</ref>  The disease is not contagious.<ref name="Pasq">Pasquini, C, Pasquini, S, Woods, P (2005) '''Guide to Equine Clinics Volume 1: Equine Medicine''', (Third edition), ''SUDZ Publishing'', 245-250.</ref>

[[Image:Equine_Protozoal_Myeloencephalitis_life_cycle.jpg|600px|thumb|centre|''' Life cycle diagram of ''Sarcocystis neurona''.  Created by the ''Agricultural Research Service, the research agency of the United States Department of Agriculture'', July 2005.  ''Sourced from the USDA Agricultural Research Service page on EPM/Sarcocystis neurona, located via WikiMedia Commons.'' ''']]

[[Image:Equine_Protozoal_Myeloencephalitis_life_cycle.jpg|600px|thumb|centre|''' Life cycle diagram of ''Sarcocystis neurona''.  Created by the ''Agricultural Research Service, the research agency of the United States Department of Agriculture'', July 2005.  ''Sourced from the USDA Agricultural Research Service page on EPM/Sarcocystis neurona, located via WikiMedia Commons.'' ''']]

Infective sporocysts are passed in the faeces of the definitive host and must be ingested by the horse for infection to occur.  See [[Sarcocystis|the parasite pages]] for further details of the life cycle of ''Sarcocystis neurona''.

Infective sporocysts are passed in the faeces of the definitive host and must be ingested by the horse for infection to occur.  See [[Sarcocystis|the ''Sarcocystis'' page]] for further details of the life cycle of ''S.neurona''.

==Pathogenesis==

==Pathogenesis==

*Other differentials with similar presentations should be ruled out wherever possible

*Other differentials with similar presentations should be ruled out wherever possible

*The horse should be resident in or have travelled within the Americas<ref name="EPM3">Vatistas, N, Mayhew, J (1995) Differential diagnosis of polyneuritis equi.  ''In Practice'', Jan, 26-29.</ref>

*The horse should be resident in or have travelled within the Americas<ref name="EPM3">Vatistas, N, Mayhew, J (1995) Differential diagnosis of polyneuritis equi.  ''In Practice'', Jan, 26-29.</ref>

The primary step in the diagnostic procedure should be to carry out thorough clinical and [[Neuro Exam of The Horse - Pathology|neurological examinations]]. <ref name="Johnson">Johnson, A.L (2009) Evidence-based review of diagnosis and treatment of ''Sarcocystis neurona'' infection (Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis).  ''Proceedings of the Annual Convention of the AAEP'' - Las Vegas, NV, USA, 55:172-176.</ref>  

The primary step in the diagnostic procedure should be to carry out thorough clinical and [[:Category:Neurological Examination - Horse|neurological examinations]]. <ref name="Johnson">Johnson, A.L (2009) Evidence-based review of diagnosis and treatment of ''Sarcocystis neurona'' infection (Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis).  ''Proceedings of the Annual Convention of the AAEP'' - Las Vegas, NV, USA, 55:172-176.</ref>  

===Immunodiagnostic  tests===

===Immunodiagnostic  tests===

*Opossums can be trapped and relocated<ref name="Merck">Merck & Co (2008) The Merck Veterinary Manual (Eighth Edition), Merial</ref>  

*Opossums can be trapped and relocated<ref name="Merck">Merck & Co (2008) The Merck Veterinary Manual (Eighth Edition), Merial</ref>  

*Monitor high-risk horses closely to help detect EPM early<ref name="Furr">Furr, M (2010) ''Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis'' in Reed, S.M, Bayly, W.M. and Sellon, D.C (2010) '''Equine Internal Medicine''' (Third Edition), ''Saunders'', Chapter 12.</ref>

*Monitor high-risk horses closely to help detect EPM early<ref name="Furr">Furr, M (2010) ''Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis'' in Reed, S.M, Bayly, W.M. and Sellon, D.C (2010) '''Equine Internal Medicine''' (Third Edition), ''Saunders'', Chapter 12.</ref>

==References==

==References==

 

 

[[Category:Expert_Review]]

[[Category:Expert_Review]]

[[Category:Neurological_Disorders_-_Horse]]

[[Category:Neurological Diseases - Horse]]