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Clinical and diagnostic laboratory immunology2002; 9(3); 605-610; doi: 10.1128/cdli.9.3.605-610.2002

Reduced levels of nitric oxide metabolites in cerebrospinal fluid are associated with equine protozoal myeloencephalitis.

Abstract: Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) is a disease of horses that is primarily associated with infection with the apicomplexan Sarcocystis neurona. Infection with this parasite alone is not sufficient to induce the disease, and the mechanism of neuropathogenesis associated with EPM has not been reported. Nitric oxide (NO) functions as a neurotransmitter, a vasodilator, and an immune effector and is produced in response to several parasitic protozoa. The purpose of this work was to determine if the concentration of NO metabolites (NO(x)(-)) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is correlated with the development of EPM. CSF NO(x)(-) levels were measured before and after transport-stressed, acclimated, or dexamethasone-treated horses (n = 3 per group) were experimentally infected with S. neurona sporocysts. CSF NO(x)(-) levels were also compared between horses that were diagnosed with EPM after natural infection with S. neurona and horses that did not have clinical signs of disease or that showed no evidence of infection with the parasite (n = 105). Among the experimentally infected animals, the mean CSF NO(x)(-) levels of the transport-stressed group, which had the most severe clinical signs, was reduced after infection, while these values were found to increase after infection in the remaining groups that had less severe signs of EPM. Under natural conditions, horses with EPM (n = 65) had a lower mean CSF NO(x)(-) concentration than clinically normal horses with antibodies (Abs) against S. neurona (n = 15) in CSF, and horses that developed ataxia (n = 81) had a significantly lower mean CSF NO(x)(-) concentration than horses that did not have neurologic signs (n = 24). In conclusion, lower CSF NO(x)(-) levels were associated with clinical EPM, suggesting that measurement of CSF NO(x)(-) levels could improve the accuracy of diagnostic tests that are based upon detection of S. neurona-specific Abs in CSF alone and that reduced NO levels could be causally related to the development of EPM.
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Publication Date: 2002-05-03 PubMed ID: 11986267PubMed Central: PMC119978DOI: 10.1128/cdli.9.3.605-610.2002Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • 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.

This research examines the connection between lower nitric oxide (NO) metabolite levels found in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of horses with Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM), a disease primarily caused by the infection of the apicomplexan, Sarcocystis neurona. The study suggests that these NO(x)(-) levels could be used to improve the accuracy of diagnostic tests and posits that the reduction might actively contribute to the development of EPM.

Objective of the research

  • The research aimed to understand if levels of nitric oxide metabolites, referred to as NO(x)(-), in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) are correlated with the development of EPM, a neurological disease mostly observed in horses.

Research Methodology

  • Various groups of horses were studied viz., transport-stressed, acclimated, or treated with dexamethasone and experimentally infected with S. neurona sporocysts. In each group, CSF NO(x)(-) levels were measured before and after the infection.
  • A comparison was made between horses naturally infected with S. neurona, with and without clinical signs of EPM. Here also, the CSF NO(x)(-) levels of these horses were recorded and observed.

Findings of the Study

  • In the case of the experimentally infected groups, the mean CSF NO(x)(-) levels of the group with transport stress showed a marked reduction after infection. This group also showed the most severe clinical signs of EPM. On the other hand, these levels increased in the remaining groups post-infection, which demonstrated less severe signs of EPM.
  • In horses with natural infection, those diagnosed with EPM exhibited a lower mean CSF NO(x)(-) concentration. In addition, horses that developed ataxia, a loss of control of bodily movements, had a significantly lower mean CSF NO(x)(-) concentration than horses without any neurological signs.

Conclusion

  • The study concluded a strong association between lower CSF NO(x)(-) levels and clinical EPM. The researchers speculate that these lower NO levels could directly contribute to the onset of EPM.
  • Moreover, measuring CSF NO(x)(-) levels emerged as a potential method to improve the accuracy of diagnostic tests for EPM, which currently rely largely on the detection of S. neurona-specific antibodies in CSF.

Cite This Article

APA
Njoku CJ, Saville WJ, Reed SM, Oglesbee MJ, Rajala-Schultz PJ, Stich RW. (2002). Reduced levels of nitric oxide metabolites in cerebrospinal fluid are associated with equine protozoal myeloencephalitis. Clin Diagn Lab Immunol, 9(3), 605-610. https://doi.org/10.1128/cdli.9.3.605-610.2002

Publication

Clinical and diagnostic laboratory immunology
ISSN: 1071-412X
NlmUniqueID: 9421292
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 9
Issue: 3
Pages: 605-610

Researcher Affiliations

Njoku, Chinedu J
  • Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA.
Saville, William J A
    Reed, Stephen M
      Oglesbee, Michael J
        Rajala-Schultz, Päivi J
          Stich, Roger W

            MeSH Terms

            • Animals
            • Encephalomyelitis / cerebrospinal fluid
            • Encephalomyelitis / metabolism
            • Encephalomyelitis / veterinary
            • Horse Diseases / cerebrospinal fluid
            • Horse Diseases / metabolism
            • Horses
            • Nitric Oxide / cerebrospinal fluid
            • Nitric Oxide / metabolism
            • Sarcocystis
            • Sarcocystosis / cerebrospinal fluid
            • Sarcocystosis / metabolism

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            Citations

            This article has been cited 1 times.
            1. Dubey JP, Howe DK, Furr M, Saville WJ, Marsh AE, Reed SM, Grigg ME. An update on Sarcocystis neurona infections in animals and equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM). Vet Parasitol 2015 Apr 15;209(1-2):1-42.
              doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2015.01.026pubmed: 25737052google scholar: lookup
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