Seroprevalence of Sarcocystis neurona and its association with neurological disorders in Argentinean horses

MORÉ, G.; VEZZANI, A.; PARDINI, L.; MONINA M.; MURIEL, M.; 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 can produce substantial economic losses on equine production in America. The aims of the present study were to evaluate the seroprevalence of S. neurona in the main horse-production area of Argentina and to associate it with the occurrence of neurological disorders. Serum samples were collected from 640 horses in 9 Argentinean Provinces. Most of the samples correspond to animals ≥ 1.5 year old from different breeds (n=628); 12 samples were from younger horses. Further seroprevalence comparison was conducted from the older animals grouped as with (n=148) or without neurological signs (n=480). Immunoblot: proteins from 2x107 S. neurona merozoites were used as antigen on each membrane. Reactivity to antigens with relative mobility of 7, 10 and 16 kDa was considered specific for antibodies against S. neurona; reactivity at 30 kDa was recorded separately. The overall seroprevalence for S. neurona was 26.1% (167/640) and all the Provinces showed positive horses. Seroprevalence of animals with neurological signs was 39.2%, significantly higher (p