Seroprevalence of antibodies to Sarcocystis neurona in horses residing in Oregon.
Abstract: To determine seroprevalence of antibodies to Sarcocystis neurona in neurologically normal horses residing in 4 regions of Oregon and to describe the effects of age, gender, breed, and housing on seroprevalence within each region. Methods: Prevalence survey. Methods: Serum samples from 334 horses systematically selected by practicing veterinarians. Methods: Antibodies to S neurona were measured in sera, using a western blot. Information including age, gender, breed, housing, geographic location, and duration of residence was obtained for each horse. Data were analyzed, using descriptive statistics. Results: 45% (149/334) of horses evaluated were seropositive for antibodies to S neurona with significant differences in the percentage of seropositive horses from different regions of the state. Seroprevalances of antibodies to S neurona in horses in regions I and II, west of the Cascade Range, were 65 and 60%, respectively; whereas seroprevalances in central and eastern Oregon, regions III and IV, were 43 and 22%, respectively. Seroprevalence consistently increased with age of horse for each region. Gender, breed, and housing were not associated with significant differences in seroprevalence of antibodies to S neurona in the overall sample population, or in comparisons of samples obtained from horses within a particular region, or among samples obtained from horses residing in different regions. Conclusions: The high seroprevalence of antibodies to S neurona in neurologically normal horses indicates that analysis of serum alone would not be useful for definitive diagnosis of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis in horses in Oregon.
Publication Date: 1997-02-15 PubMed ID: 9040840
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research presents a study on the presence of antibodies to Sarcocystis neurona, a protozoa causing neuron disease, in healthy horses from different regions of Oregon. It also explores how age, gender, breed, and housing conditions might affect this presence.
Objectives and Methods of the Study
- The main objective of the research was to determine the seroprevalence, or the occurrence of specific antibodies in the horse population, of Sarcocystis neurona in neurologically normal horses in Oregon.
- Through this, it aimed to understand the effects of different factors on seroprevalence. These factors included the age, gender, breed, and housing of the horses.
- The study involved a prevalence survey, where serum samples were collected from 334 horses, who were systematically selected by practicing veterinarians.
- The antibodies were measured using a western blot technique. In addition, data such as the horses’ age, gender, breed, housing, location, and the duration of residence were also gathered.
- This information was then analysed using descriptive statistics.
Results of the Research
- The findings showed that 45% of the horses studied had antibodies to Sarcocystis neurona.
- The study noted significant disparities in the percentage of antibody-positive horses from different regions of Oregon. Their prevalence was highest in regions west of the Cascade Range, at a rate of 60% to 65%.
- By comparison, the presence of these antibodies was lower in central and eastern Oregon, with rates of 43% and 22% respectively.
- The research also identified that the seroprevalence of these antibodies increased with the age of the horse, remaining consistent across regions.
- Further, factors such as gender, breed, and housing did not significantly influence the seroprevalence in the overall sample population, within specific regions, or across different regions.
Conclusions Drawn from the Study
- The research concluded that the high seroprevalence of antibodies to Sarcocystis neurona in neurologically normal horses implied that analysis of serum alone is not sufficient to definitively diagnose equine protozoal myeloencephalitis in horses in Oregon.
Cite This Article
APA
Blythe LL, Granstrom DE, Hansen DE, Walker LL, Bartlett J, Stamper S.
(1997).
Seroprevalence of antibodies to Sarcocystis neurona in horses residing in Oregon.
J Am Vet Med Assoc, 210(4), 525-527.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, Corvallis 97331, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Age Distribution
- Animals
- Antibodies, Protozoan / blood
- Breeding
- Encephalomyelitis / epidemiology
- Encephalomyelitis / immunology
- Encephalomyelitis / veterinary
- Female
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / immunology
- Horses
- Housing, Animal
- Male
- Oregon / epidemiology
- Prevalence
- Sarcocystis / immunology
- Sarcocystosis / epidemiology
- Sarcocystosis / immunology
- Sarcocystosis / veterinary
- Seroepidemiologic Studies
- Sex Distribution
Citations
This article has been cited 7 times.- Reed SM, Furr M, Howe DK, Johnson AL, MacKay RJ, Morrow JK, Pusterla N, Witonsky S. Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis: An Updated Consensus Statement with a Focus on Parasite Biology, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention. J Vet Intern Med 2016 Mar-Apr;30(2):491-502.
- 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.
- Yeargan MR, Alvarado-Esquivel C, Dubey JP, Howe DK. Prevalence of antibodies to Sarcocystis neurona and Neospora hughesi in horses from Mexico. Parasite 2013;20:29.
- Hoane JS, Morrow JK, Saville WJ, Dubey JP, Granstrom DE, Howe DK. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for detection of equine antibodies specific to Sarcocystis neurona surface antigens. Clin Diagn Lab Immunol 2005 Sep;12(9):1050-6.
- Spencer JA, Deinnocentes P, Moyana EM, Guarino AJ, Ellison SE, Bird RC, Blagburn BL. Cytokine gene expression in response to SnSAG1 in horses with equine protozoal myeloencephalitis. Clin Diagn Lab Immunol 2005 May;12(5):644-6.
- Njoku CJ, Saville WJ, Reed SM, Oglesbee MJ, Rajala-Schultz PJ, Stich RW. Reduced levels of nitric oxide metabolites in cerebrospinal fluid are associated with equine protozoal myeloencephalitis. Clin Diagn Lab Immunol 2002 May;9(3):605-10.
- Liang FT, Granstrom DE, Zhao XM, Timoney JF. Evidence that surface proteins Sn14 and Sn16 of Sarcocystis neurona merozoites are involved in infection and immunity. Infect Immun 1998 May;66(5):1834-8.
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