Equine- Eimeria Sarcocystis

Question 1

What is Eimeria leukarti Identification?

Answer 1

val oocyst 80 X 60 μm
Thick dark shell and distinct micropyle
Shell can come off

Question 2

What is Eimeria leukarti Life cycle?

Answer 2

PPP 15 d with three phases
1 )Sporulation
2) Asexual reproduction: infection and
schizogony
3) Sexual reproduction: gametogony and oocyst formation

Question 3

What is Eimeria leukarti Site(s) of infection?

Answer 3

mall intestine

Question 4

What is Eimeria leukarti Pathogenesis and lesions?

Answer 4

nflammatory changes in mucosa

Disruption of villous architecture

Question 5

What is Eimeria leukarti Clinical signs?

Answer 5

Intermittent diarrhea

Foals most susceptible

Question 6

What is Eimeria leukarti Diagnosis?

Answer 6

Heavy oocysts difficult to float

Sugar flotation or specific sedimentation techniques used

Question 7

What is Eimeria leukarti Treatment and prevention?

Answer 7

Antiprotozoals (sulpha-drugs) appear to help

Supportive therapy

Question 8

What is Sarcocystis neurona Common name of disease caused?

Answer 8

Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM)

Question 9

What is Sarcocystis neurona Hosts?

Answer 9

Definitive host – opossum
Intermediate host – cats, striped skunks, armadillos, fishers, raccoons, etc
Accidental host - horse

Question 10

What is Sarcocystis neurona Normal life cycle?

Answer 10

Gametogony in final host
Schizogony in intermediate host
bradyzoites in muscle tissue

Question 11

What is Sarcocystis neurona Accidental life cycle?

Answer 11

Schizonts develop in horse’s neurons, not in muscle cells

Question 12

What is Sarcocystis neurona Pathogenesis and lesions?

Answer 12

Final host - non-pathogenic
Intermediate host - pathogenic effect due to 2nd stage schizogony in vascular endothelium
Accidental host - pathogenic due to 3rd stage schizogony in nervous tissue rather muscle

Question 13

What is Sarcocystis neurona Clinical signs - horses?

Answer 13

A progressively debilitating disease affecting the CNS, brain, brainstem, and spinal cord
Unusual or atypical lameness, or seizures
Difficulty with standing, walking or swallowing
May progress very rapidly

Question 14

What is Sarcocystis neurona Treatment and prevention?

Answer 14

Opossum control critical – prevent opossums defecating where horses are fed
Antiprotozoals can rid horse of Sarcocystis neurona organisms, but CNS damage may remain

Question 15

What is EPM?

Answer 15

Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis

The most commonly diagnosed infectious equine neurologic disease in America

Question 16

What is EPM Diagnosis Antemortem?

Answer 16

Clinical signs
Western blotting, 14, 13 and 3 kDa
PCR – CSF

Question 17

What is EPM Diagnosis Postmortem?

Answer 17

Histopathological demonstration of S. neurona in CNS

Question 18

What is EPM Treatment?

Answer 18

Applied as quick as possible once diagnosed
A successful recovery in 70-75% horses
Sulfadiazine, 20 mg/kg per os, ≥12 wks
pyrimethamine: 1.0 mg/kg per os, ≥12 D
Nitazoxanide: 11.36 mg/kg 5 days followed by 23 days of double doses