Is there a test for EPM in horses?

Is there a test for EPM in horses?

No test in the live horse is currently considered definitive. Therefore, EPM is diagnosed based on a combination of (1) a thorough neurologic examination, (2) evaluation of serum and/or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for the presence of antibodies to S. neurona and/or N.

What should a horse owner do to prevent EPM?

For now, your best bet for preventing EPM lies in limiting your horse’s exposure to the protozoa. And, for the most part, that means taking steps to break the parasite’s life cycle and to prevent opossums from contaminating your horse’s feed and water: Avoid attracting large numbers of scavengers.

Is EPM common in horses?

EPM causes clinical disease in approximately one percent of exposed horses. Almost every part of the country has reported cases of EPM. However, the incidence of disease is much lower in the western United States, especially in regions with small opossum populations.

How accurate is EPM test in horses?

Paired serum and CSF samples are recommended. The most current calculation of test performance was performed by Equine Diagnostic Solutions (EDS) using 66 necropsied neurologic horses with 30 diagnosed as EPM. Respectively, serum and CSF sensitivities were 90% and 83% and the specificities were 42% and 86%.

What does a horse with EPM look like?

Seizures or collapse. Abnormal sweating. Loss of sensation along the face, neck or body. Head tilt with poor balance; horse may assume a splay-footed stance or lean against stall walls for support.

How long does it take for a horse to show signs of EPM?

Our results indicate that EPM can manifest as long as 90 days after the parasite has crossed the blood-brain barrier (data not shown), but in most of the challenged horses evidence of infection occurred within 30 days and ataxia was present by 60 days.

How much vitamin E does a horse with EPM need?

5,000 to 10,000 IU per day
The nutrient that is most commonly focused on for horses with EPM is Vitamin E. Supplementation with high levels of natural Vitamin E are often encouraged, as Vitamin E is a potent antioxidant that supports nerve function and the immune system. Levels of 5,000 to 10,000 IU per day are recommended during treatment.

What is the best treatment for EPM?

There are two treatment options for EPM.

• A six-month course of antibiotic (trimethoprim-sulfonamide) and antiprotozoal agent (pyrimethamine).
• A 28-day course of antiprotozoal (ponazuril). Horses may need a second round of ponazuril in some cases. This is the only FDA-approved treatment for EPM.

What is a high titer for EPM?

Although a wide range of serum titers was observed for necropsy positive EPM cases, there was a trend for higher serum titers (≥ 1:4000) to correlate better with EPM.

What are the first signs of EPM in horses?

Learn to Recognize the Symptoms of EPM

• Ataxia (incoordination), spasticity (stiff, stilted movements), abnormal gait or lameness.
• Incoordination and weakness which worsens when going up or down slopes or when head is elevated.

Is EPM painful for horses?

Horses that are suffering from EPM will also be painful around the occiput and atlas, due to the inflammation going on in the spinal cord. If you have the horse walk and have someone walk behind them and pull them by the tail off to one side, they will be unable to right themselves.

How do you test for EPM in horses?

For many years veterinarians used a test called the Western blot as the standard for diagnosing EPM in the live horse. It worked by detecting a pattern of S. neurona antibodies in the horse’s serum or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

What does a positive EPM blood test mean?

A positive blood test only determines that the horse has been exposed to the parasite and does not mean that the horse will develop clinical signs or that the neurological deficits are caused by the protozoal parasite. There is currently no gold standard for EPM diagnostic testing other than necropsy.

What is the definitive diagnosis of equine encephalomyelitis?

Definitive diagnosis of EPM relies on postmortem examination of neural tissue. No test in the live horse is currently considered definitive.

What happens if EPM is left untreated in horses?

If left undiagnosed and untreated, EPM can cause devastating and lasting neurological deficits. The success rate for treated horses is high. Many will improve and a smaller percentage will recover completely, but 10-20% of cases may relapse within two years.