An update on Sarcocystis neurona infections in animals and equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM).

Vet Parasitol

Molecular Parasitology Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institutes of Health, National Institutes of Allergy, and Infectious Diseases, 4 Center Drive, Room B1-06, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.

Published: April 2015

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Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) is a serious disease of horses, and its management continues to be a challenge for veterinarians. The protozoan Sarcocystis neurona is most commonly associated with EPM. S. neurona has emerged as a common cause of mortality in marine mammals, especially sea otters (Enhydra lutris). EPM-like illness has also been recorded in several other mammals, including domestic dogs and cats. This paper updates S. neurona and EPM information from the last 15 years on the advances regarding life cycle, molecular biology, epidemiology, clinical signs, diagnosis, treatment and control.

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http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4461864PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2015.01.026DOI Listing

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