What causes equine protozoal myeloencephalitis?

Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) is caused by the protozoal parasites Sarcocystis neurona and Neospora hughesi, although most cases are due to S. neurona. The definitive host for S. neurona is the opossum, and horses become infected when they ingest feed or water contaminated with opossum feces.

What are the symptoms of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis?

Signs may include any of the following:

  • Subtle lameness.
  • Weakness.
  • Ataxia (incoordination)
  • Usually asymmetrical, one to all limbs.
  • Muscle atrophy.
  • Head tilt.
  • Head shaking.
  • Cranial nerve signs, such as asymmetrical facial paralysis, head tilt or swallowing difficulties.

What is EPM horse disease?

What is EPM? EPM is a disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. It’s caused by the microbe, Sarcocystis neurona, commonly found in the opossum. Horses that come in contact with infected opossum feces can develop neurologic disease.

Is equine protozoal myeloencephalitis fatal?

Without treatment, equine protozoal myeloencephalitis is often fatal, but the severe signs, particularly recumbency, may not occur for years after infection. The disease can progress steadily or in a stop-start fashion.

How do you treat protozoal myeloencephalitis in horses?

EPM is treated with antiprotozoal drugs and immunomodulators. Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) is a common neurologic disease of horses in the Americas; it has been reported in most of the contiguous 48 states of the USA, southern Canada, Mexico, and several countries in Central and South America.

How do you prevent equine protozoal myeloencephalitis?

Therefore, picking up dead skunks, raccoons, armadillos or cats on your property and disposing the carcasses to prevent opossums from eating them may prevent many sporocysts from contaminating the environment and hence reduce the incidence of the disease.

What is EPM planning?

EPM generally refers to enterprise planning using data feedback to improve the primarily financial performance and efficiency of an organization. This can include all systems, processes, activities, and reports of an organization based on the use of data to plan future decisions.

What is an EPM tool?

Enterprise performance management (EPM) software is an on-premise or cloud-hosted digital tool designed to collect and manage metrics related to financial performance and business planning processes. The core functionality of EPM is to help you analyze, understand, and report on your enterprise workflow methodologies.

Can humans get equine protozoal myeloencephalitis?

Yes. People can get sarcocystosis. They acquire the disease by ingesting (oral) the protozoan, most common- ly through undercooked meat prod- ucts. Disease in humans can involve either intestinal infection or muscular invasion by the parasite.

Do opossums carry a disease that kills horses?

Bottom line: Yes, opossums are the culprit that transmits the causative parasite of EPM to horses.

What causes EDM in horses?

Equine neuroaxonal dystrophy (eNAD) and equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy (EDM) result from abnormalities of specific neurons in the brainstem and spinal cord. Affected horses are often uncoordinated, display gait abnormalities, and are unsure where to place their feet.

What is EPM and its benefits?

EPM helps improve financial planning and analysis to reduce cost and risk so as to drive profitability with decisions based on facts. It has the ability to coordinate resources, activities and tasks across multiple departments and teams.

What is Equine EPM?

EPM is Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis, it is a neurologic disease of the horse caused by two kinds of parasites.

What is the most common horse disease?

The most common horse ailments are colic, heaves, laminitis (founder), abscesses, and “tying up”. Two common horse diseases are EPM and “Moon Blindness”.

What do horse owners need to know about EPM?

“Because EPM is a potentially fatal neurological disease, it’s important that horse owners learn about its causes and clinical signs so they are better prepared to recognize it.” What is EPM? EPM is a neurological disease found in horses caused by Sarcocystis neurona , a parasite that attacks the brain and spinal cord. It is a disease that, if not detected and treated, can seriously damage a horse’s central nervous system and can even lead to death.1,2. How does a horse get EPM?

How do horses get EPM?

—Emilee. A: The main protozoan that causes EPM, Sarcocystis neurona, is found in the scat of some opossums. The horse eats feed (hay or grain/concentrates) that is contaminated with S. neurona from opossum feces, and the protozoa gains entrance into the horse’s blood through the intestinal tract.