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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.

Read more at EQUUS magazine.

The post Can A Horse That Has Had EPM Have A Relapse? appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Scientists from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences found asymmetrical movement in most of the Standardbred horses used in a study.

The group recruited the help of 12 Standardbred trainers across Norway and Sweden. They used wireless inertial sensors to detect uneven movement at the trot on 103 horses. All the horses had been broke to harness and were beginning race training; each was considered fit to train by their trainers.

Drs. Anne Kallerud, Cathrine Fjordbakk, Eli Hendrickson, Emma Persson‐Sjodin, Marie Hammarberg, Marie Rhodin and Elin Hernlund chose to study this group, which had an average age of 18 months, to reduce the chances of the presence of training-related injuries. All horses received a physical exam before the study; measurements were taken to see if any associations could be found with the uneven movement that could be detected.

Of the 103 horses, 77 were seen in-hand and on the track; 24 were assessed in-hand only and two were assessed only on the track. The scientists used thresholds established for other breeds to determine asymmetry. They determined that 94 of horses (93 percent) showed front and/or hind limb asymmetry in the in-hand reviews. In the track trials, 74 horses (94 percent) showed asymmetry. Though most of the asymmetry was mild, one in five horses switched the asymmetrical side for one or more parameters between in-hand and on-track trials.

The study team explored the prevalence of asymmetry, but not its underlying causes. It is unclear if the asymmetrical movement increases, decreases or stabilizes with age and training. They suggest that future studies look at the changes in asymmetry over time, and explore any associations between the asymmetrical movement and the development of clinical lameness.

Read the study here.

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Can A Horse That Has Had EPM Have A Relapse?

Asymmetrical Movement Common In Young Standardbreds