EPM : The Horse Health website.

["Tracey" <tracey@tbt.co.za>]

I received this from a website I sub. to.  I know squat diddly about EPM,
but with the recent discussions on it, I thought you folks might be
interested.


I've basically just included the whole thing, so sorry if it's a bit
longish, or cluttery

>
>The following is a preview of a special report on the life
>cycle of EPM that will appear in the March 2000 issue of The
>Horse.
>
>============================================================
>
>EPM LIFE CYCLE SOLVED IN THE LABORATORY
>
>The most recent Journal of Parasitology contained an article
>that opens the door for battling equine protozoal
>myeloencephalitis (EPM). Researchers J. P. Dubey, BVSc, PhD,
>senior scientist at the Parasite Biology and Epidemiology
>Laboratory of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, William J.
>A. Saville, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, assistant professor of the
>Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine at The Ohio
>State University, and others found they could use the common
>domestic cat as the experimental intermediate host for the
>life cycle of the causative protozoal parasite Sarcocystis
>neurona.
>
>It already was known that the opossum is the definitive
>host, and the horse is an aberrant, intermediate host. The
>horse is considered to be a dead-end host (the parasite
>can't complete its life cycle in the horse, and a positive
>horse can't pass the parasite to another horse). This new
>breakthrough will allow researchers to complete the life
>cycle in the laboratory, thus allowing them to give EPM to
>horses in an experimental setting. This means that
>preventive vaccines and medical treatments for EPM can be
>challenged and proven effective or ineffective in the
>laboratory. Research needs to continue to determine if the
>cat is the natural intermediate host in the life cycle, or
>if there are others.
>
>Saville emphasized that: "At this point in time, cats should
>not be eliminated until the true natural intermediate host
>(or hosts) is determined."
>
>It was stated in the article that, "EPM causes annual loss
>of more than $100 million to the equine industry in the
>United States." EPM causes mild to severe neurologic
>symptoms because the parasite migrates to the spinal cord
>and brain of horses. Current treatments can halt
>multiplication of the parasite in the horse, and future
>treatments (currently under FDA scrutiny) could kill the
>parasite in the horse. Most horses which test positive for
>antibodies to EPM do not develop clinical neurologic signs
>(toe dragging, drooped lip, lameness, incoordination, etc.).
>However, most horses which develop clinical signs do not
>recover to their previous level of athletic ability. A small
>percentage will recover, then relapse when treatments are
>halted. -- Kimberly S. Graetz
>
>============================================================
>
>For more EPM information, see the following book from
>Exclusively Equine, our partner in equine health education,
>and the following archived articles on our web site:
>
>Book:
>
>Understanding EPM, by David Granstrom, DVM
>http://www.exclusivelyequine.com/cgi-bin/ee2.storefront/EN/Product/B11-1009
C
>
>Articles:
>
>EPM Update (December 2000)
>  http://www.thehorse.com/0012/epm_update0012.html
>Up Front: News and Notes (July 2000)
>  http://www.thehorse.com/0007/upfront.html
>Researchers Declare War on EPM (May 2000)
>  http://www.thehorse.com/0005/forum.html
>After EPM (May 1999)
>  http://www.thehorse.com/9905/after_epm9905.html
>EPM Update (March 1999)
>  http://www.thehorse.com/9903/epm_update9903.html
>EPM Is Key Topic At AAEP Convention (December 1998)
>  http://www.thehorse.com/convention_reports/aaep98/981210-epm.html
>Up Front: News and Notes (May 1998)
>  http://www.thehorse.com/0598/upfront.html
>Choices (April 1998)
>  http://www.thehorse.com/0498/viewpoint.html
>EPM Treatment Problems For Pregnant Mares (March 1998)
>  http://www.thehorse.com/0398/epm_update0398-2.html
>EPM Update (March 1998)
>  http://www.thehorse.com/0398/epm_update0398.html
>Other EPM Web Sites (March 1998)
>  http://www.thehorse.com/0398/epm_websites.html
>The Importation of Toltrazuril For Personal Use (March 1998)
>  http://www.thehorse.com/0398/epm_toltrazuril0398.html
>EPM Update (1997 AAEP convention)
>  http://www.thehorse.com/aaep_convention/epm2.html
>EPM and Acupuncture (April 1997)
>  http://www.thehorse.com/0497/epm_accupuncture0497.html
>EPM: Hope At Last (April 1997)
>  http://www.thehorse.com/0497/epm0497.html
>Life Cycle Of Sarcocystis neurona (April 1997)
>  http://www.thehorse.com/0497/epm_life_cycle0497.html
>Three Studies On Seroprevalence (April 1997)
>  http://www.thehorse.com/0497/epm_seroprevalence0497.html
>Does Your Horse Have EPM and How Can You Be Sure? Timely
>  Tips http://www.thehorse.com/timely_tips/tips_epm.html
>