Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis | Horse Racing Free Tips

Monkey See, Monkey Do: Will A Foal Mimic A Mare’s Neurologic Behavior?

Foals often mimic the behavior of their dams, copycatting everything from grazing to running to rolling and more. But what happens when a foal is born to a mare that has neurologic issues? Will it mimic the odd behaviors?

The staff at Mid-Atlantic Equine Medical Center has cared for many foals born to neurologically compromised mares, said Dr. Rodney Belgrave. Often the mares are afflicted with equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM). Belgrave says he has not seen foals mimic the neurological signs their mothers exhibit.

However, foals can be born infected with organisms that cause neurologic disease. One of the organisms that causes EPM can be transmitted to the fetus from the placenta. However, infected foals may not demonstrate neurological signs until they are three months old.

Foals can also be born with equine herpesvirus type-1 (EHV-1) that is contracted from the dam, but many don't show neurologic signs of this disease, either.

The most common cause of neurologic disease in foals is neonatal encephalopathy, which occurs when the fetus is deprived of oxygen. This can be caused by a bacterial infection called placentitis or by a difficult birthing process. Affected foals often don't develop neurologic signs until 18 to 24 hours after birth.

In both cases, the lack of oxygen leads to fluid build up in brain tissue. Though alarming, the prognosis for neonatal encephalopathy is very good if the foals are treated early and appropriately.

AAEP Publishes Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis Guidelines

The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) has published on its website comprehensive guidelines to assist practitioners with identification, diagnosis and control of Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM), a progressively debilitating disease of the central nervous system that affects horses that reside or once spent time in North or South America.

“EPM is widely considered the most important infectious neurologic disease of horses in North America,” said guidelines author Amy Johnson, DVM, DACVIM. “The variable clinical signs and widespread seroprevalence pose challenges to diagnosis. These guidelines aim to summarize essential information regarding this disease process, as well as highlight the three criteria for highest diagnostic accuracy in potentially affected horses.”

The EPM Guidelines, available as a PDF file, were reviewed and approved by the AAEP's Infectious Disease Committee and board of directors. View the EPM Guidelines here.

Besides EPM, AAEP guidelines for 20 other equine infectious diseases are available here. In addition, two foreign animal disease guidelines—for African horse sickness and Glanders—can be found here.

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Can A Horse That Has Had EPM Have A Relapse?

Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) is a potentially devastating disease caused by a protozoa that horses ingest. Once the horse has been infected, the organisms can migrate to the central nervous system, causing inflammation and tissue damage to the spinal cord and brain.

A horse that has EPM can be incoordinated, lame or weak. Treatment involves the use of antiprotozoal or antiparasitic medication like diclazuril, ponazuril or sulfadiazine and pyrimethamine. These can reduce or eliminate the signs of EPM. Most cases of EPM respond to treatment, but horses may need more than one round of treatment weeks or months after their initial treatment.

EPM-causing protozoa are good at evading the immune response and surviving immune attacks, which makes them hard to eradicate. Additionally, a horse's immune response in the central nervous system is not as strong, additionally complicating treatment. Because of this, horses that have had EPM can relapse, though it is unclear how often this happens. One study showed a relapse in about 8 percent of horses within 90 days after the initial EPM treatment concluded. Evidence of relapses after longer periods of time also occur.

Multiple factors are involved in an EPM relapse, including the dose and type of drug used, as well as the variability of the individual horse to clear the organisms. A veterinarian caring for a horse that has another episode of EPM should investigate lengthening the duration of treatment.

Grade 1-Placed Louisiana Stallion Givemeaninit Dies Of EPM

Clear Creek Stud in Folsom, La., announced Thursday, Oct. 1 the loss of first-year stallion Givemeaminit to EPM (Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis).

“Anyone who has been involved in the Thoroughbred breeding business is aware of the heartbreaks that often come with it,” a statement from the farm read. “That became abundantly clear to us here at Clear Creek Stud this morning when we lost first year stallion Givemeaminit to EPM.”

The first son of leading Louisiana stallion Star Guitar to enter stud, Givemeaminit was second in the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes as a 2-year-old and fourth in that year's Breeders Cup Juvenile.

As a 3-year-old, he won the Louisiana Champions Day Sprint, was third in the G3 Pat Day Mile and was the Louisiana-bred champion colt or gelding. The Valene Farms LLC runner was trained throughout his career by Dallas Stewart and had career earnings of $428,580.

Givemeaminit stood for an advertised fee of $2,500 during his lone season at stud.

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