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Veterinary therapeutics : research in applied veterinary medicine2001; 2(3); 215-222;

Efficacy of ponazuril 15% oral paste as a treatment for equine protozoal myeloencephalitis.

Abstract: Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) is a neurologic disease of horses most commonly caused by the protozoan parasite Sarcocystis neurona. Until recently the only treatment option was the combination of a sulfonamide with pyrimethamine. The present study was performed to assess the efficacy of ponazuril, an anticoccidial triazine-based compound, as a treatment for naturally occurring EPM. One hundred one horses with EPM were randomly allocated to treatment with ponazuril 15% oral paste at either 5 or 10 mg/kg body weight for 28 consecutive days. Horses were evaluated clinically and by analysis of blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) before and 28 and 118 days after the start of treatment. Clinical success was defined as either an improvement in neurologic score by at least one grade (on a 0 to 5 scale) or conversion to negative status on Western blot for S. neurona antibodies by 90 days following cessation of treatment. Overall, 62% of the horses, including 28 of 47 treated with ponazuril at 5 mg/kg and 35 of 54 treated with 10 mg/kg, met the criteria for successful treatment. The Western blot for CSF became negative in 10% (10/101) of the horses. Quantification of the anti-17kDa antibody response in Western blot (relative quantity CSF) did not reveal a significant change in response to treatment. However, immunoglobulin index did decrease significantly during treatment (P = .01). The findings of this study support the efficacy of ponazuril for the treatment of EPM.
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Publication Date: 2001-07-01 PubMed ID: 19746664
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  • Clinical Trial
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The study investigates the effectiveness of ponazuril, an anticoccidial compound, in treating equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM), a neurological disease in horses caused by a protozoan parasite.

Introduction and Purpose of Research

  • The research focuses on the treatment of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM), a prevalent neurological disease in horses caused by the Sarcocystis neurona parasite.
  • Previously, treating EPM has been limited to the combination of a sulfonamide with pyrimethamine.
  • The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of ponazuril, an anticoccidial triazine-based compound, and evaluate it as a potential treatment for EPM.

Methodology

  • A hundred and one horses diagnosed with EPM were randomly allocated to treatment with a 15% oral paste of ponazuril at either 5 or 10 mg/kg of the body weight for 28 straight days.
  • The horses were clinically evaluated and their blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was analyzed both before the treatment, 28 days into the treatment and 118 days following commencing of treatment.

Criteria for Successful Treatment

  • Successful treatment was defined by the improvement of the horse’s neurological score by at least one grade or the conversion to a negative status on the Western blot test for S. neurona antibodies. This qualification was to be met 90 days after the cessation of treatment.

Results

  • Overall results show a 62% success rate, including 28 out of 47 horses treated with 5 mg/kg ponazuril and 35 out of 54 horses treated with 10 mg/kg.
  • The Western blot test for CSF turned out negative in 10% (10 out of 101) of the horses.
  • There wasn’t a significant change in the anti-17kDa antibody response in the Western blot test relative to the quantity of CSF as a reaction to the treatment.
  • Nevertheless, the immunoglobulin index, an indicator of immune response, saw a significant decrease during the treatment (p-value of 0.01).

Conclusion

  • The findings of the research do support ponazuril as an effective treatment of EPM.

Cite This Article

APA
Furr M, Kennedy T, MacKay R, Reed S, Andrews F, Bernard B, Bain F, Byars D. (2001). Efficacy of ponazuril 15% oral paste as a treatment for equine protozoal myeloencephalitis. Vet Ther, 2(3), 215-222.

Publication

Veterinary therapeutics : research in applied veterinary medicine
ISSN: 1528-3593
NlmUniqueID: 100936368
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 2
Issue: 3
Pages: 215-222

Researcher Affiliations

Furr, M
  • Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center, PO Box 1938, Leesburg, VA 20177, USA.
Kennedy, T
    MacKay, R
      Reed, S
        Andrews, F
          Bernard, B
            Bain, F
              Byars, D

                MeSH Terms

                • Administration, Oral
                • Animals
                • Antiprotozoal Agents / administration & dosage
                • Antiprotozoal Agents / therapeutic use
                • Encephalomyelitis / drug therapy
                • Encephalomyelitis / parasitology
                • Encephalomyelitis / veterinary
                • Horse Diseases / drug therapy
                • Horses
                • Sarcocystosis / drug therapy
                • Sarcocystosis / veterinary
                • Triazines / administration & dosage
                • Triazines / therapeutic use

                Citations

                This article has been cited 13 times.
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