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Tropical animal health and production2020; 52(6); 3809-3817; doi: 10.1007/s11250-020-02419-y

Pathological, immunohistochemical, and molecular findings of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis due to Sarcocystis neurona infection in Brazilian horses.

Abstract: Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) is an important neurologic disease of horses in the American continent caused by Sarcocystis neurona and Neospora hughesi infection. This study describes the pathological, immunohistochemical, and molecular findings of fatal cases of EPM in southern Brazil. A review was performed on a total of 13 cases compatible with EPM, which were diagnosed by postmortem examination in the period of 2010-2017. Epidemiological information was obtained from necropsy reports. Gross and histological lesions were characterized, and cases were subjected to immunohistochemistry anti-Sarcocystis neurona, Toxoplasma gondii, and Neospora spp. Molecular search was performed using ITS-1 gene PCRs. Microscopic lesions were multifocal in all cases, and more frequently observed in the spinal cord segments and in the rhombencephalon. Intralesional protozoans were histologically detected in five horses, while a positive immunostaining for S. neurona was observed in eleven cases (11/13). Through molecular techniques, six positive cases for the ITS-1 gene were detected, and obtained sequences presented highest similarity with S. neurona. EPM due to S. neurona infection represents an important neurologic disease of horses in Brazil and this disease should be considered as a main differential diagnosis in horses presenting neurologic signs.
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Publication Date: 2020-10-04 PubMed ID: 33011934DOI: 10.1007/s11250-020-02419-yGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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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.

This research paper examines cases of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM), a serious neurological disease in horses, in southern Brazil. It focuses on the pathological, immunohistochemical, and molecular factors of fatal EPM cases, using a range of techniques to identify and understand the disease’s impact.

Objective of the Study

  • The researchers sought to understand and describe the pathological, immunohistochemical, and molecular elements of fatal EPM cases caused by Sarcocystis neurona in southern Brazil.

Methodology

  • The study reviewed a total of 13 cases that were compatible with EPM.
  • These cases were diagnosed postmortem between 2010 and 2017.
  • The team collected epidemiological information from necropsy reports, and characterized gross and histological lesions.
  • All cases were subjected to immunohistochemistry for Sarcocystis neurona, Toxoplasma gondii, and Neospora spp.
  • Molecular research was undertaken using the ITS-1 gene PCR technique.

Findings and Analysis

  • Microscopic lesions were found to be multifocal in all cases, primarily observed in certain parts of the spinal cord and rhombencephalon.
  • Using histological analysis, intralesional protozoans were found in a section of the study’s horses.
  • Positive immunostaining for S. neurona was observed in a majority of the cases.
  • Using molecular techniques, they found that a significant number of cases carried the ITS-1 gene, which exhibited high similarity with S. neurona.

Conclusions

  • The findings suggest that EPM due to S. neurona infection is a notable neurological disease in horses in Brazil.
  • The study’s results indicate that S. neurona infection should be strongly considered when diagnosing horses presenting with neurological symptoms.

Cite This Article

APA
Henker LC, Bandinelli MB, de Andrade CP, Bianchi MV, Sonne L, Driemeier D, Soares JF, Pavarini SP. (2020). Pathological, immunohistochemical, and molecular findings of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis due to Sarcocystis neurona infection in Brazilian horses. Trop Anim Health Prod, 52(6), 3809-3817. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-020-02419-y

Publication

Tropical animal health and production
ISSN: 1573-7438
NlmUniqueID: 1277355
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 52
Issue: 6
Pages: 3809-3817

Researcher Affiliations

Henker, Luan Cleber
  • Setor de Patologia Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Avenida Bento Gonçalves 9090, Prédio 42.505, Bairro Agronomia, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 91540-000, Brazil. luanchenker@gmail.com.
Bandinelli, Marcele Bettim
  • Setor de Patologia Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Avenida Bento Gonçalves 9090, Prédio 42.505, Bairro Agronomia, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 91540-000, Brazil.
de Andrade, Caroline Pinto
  • Setor de Patologia Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Avenida Bento Gonçalves 9090, Prédio 42.505, Bairro Agronomia, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 91540-000, Brazil.
Bianchi, Matheus Viezzer
  • Setor de Patologia Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Avenida Bento Gonçalves 9090, Prédio 42.505, Bairro Agronomia, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 91540-000, Brazil.
Sonne, Luciana
  • Setor de Patologia Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Avenida Bento Gonçalves 9090, Prédio 42.505, Bairro Agronomia, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 91540-000, Brazil.
Driemeier, David
  • Setor de Patologia Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Avenida Bento Gonçalves 9090, Prédio 42.505, Bairro Agronomia, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 91540-000, Brazil.
Soares, João Fábio
  • Laboratório de Protozoologia e Rickettsiosis Vetoriais, UFRGS, Avenida Bento Gonçalves 9090, Bairro Agronomia, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 91540-000, Brazil.
Pavarini, Saulo Petinatti
  • Setor de Patologia Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Avenida Bento Gonçalves 9090, Prédio 42.505, Bairro Agronomia, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 91540-000, Brazil.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / analysis
  • Autopsy / veterinary
  • Brazil
  • Encephalomyelitis / epidemiology
  • Encephalomyelitis / parasitology
  • Encephalomyelitis / veterinary
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horse Diseases / parasitology
  • Horses
  • Immunohistochemistry / veterinary
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Sarcocystis / isolation & purification
  • Sarcocystosis / epidemiology
  • Sarcocystosis / veterinary

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Citations

This article has been cited 5 times.
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