SEROPREVALENCE OF SARCOCYSTIS NEURONA AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS IN ARGENTINEAN HORSES

MORÉ, G..; VISSANI, A.; PARDINI, L.; MONINA, M.; ; MURIEL, M.; ; HOWE, D.; BARRANDEGUY, M. ; VENTURINI M.C.

JOURNAL OF EQUINE VETERINARY SCIENCE

ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2014 vol. 34 p. 1051 - 1054

0737-0806

Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM) is generally caused by Sarcocystis neurona and can32 produce substantial economic losses on equine production in America. The aims of the present33 study were to evaluate the seroprevalence of S. neurona in the main horse-production area of34 Argentina and to associate it with the occurrence of neurological disorders. Serum samples were35 collected from 640 horses in 9 Argentinean Provinces. Most of the samples correspond to36 animals ≥ 1.5 year old from different breeds (n=628); 12 samples were from younger horses.37 Further seroprevalence comparison was conducted from the older animals grouped with (n=148)38 or without neurological signs (n=480). Immunoblot: proteins from 2x107 S. neurona merozoites39 were used as antigen on each membrane. Reactivity to antigens with relative mobility of 7, 1040 and 16 kDa was considered specific for antibodies against S. neurona; reactivity at 30 kDa was41 recorded separately.42 The overall seroprevalence for S. neurona was 26.1% (167/640) and all the Provinces had43 positive horses. Seroprevalence of animals with neurological signs was higher (p<0.001) than44 what was observed in normal horses (39.2 vs 22.1%), with an odds ratio of 2.27. Reactivity at45 30 kDa was detected in 71% of all samples. This study identified a wide distribution of S.46 neurona positive animals in Argentina and horses with neurological signs having a higher47 seroprevalence than normal horses. S. neurona infection should be considered for early48 differential diagnosis and treatment of animals with neurological disorders in order to decrease49 the economic impact of EPM in Argentina.