Serologic prevalence of Sarcocystis neurona, Toxoplasma gondii, and Neospora caninum in horses in Brazil.
J Am Vet Med Assoc 1999;
215:970-2. [PMID:
10511862]
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To determine serologic prevalence of Sarcocystis neurona, Toxoplasma gondii, and Neospora caninum in horses in Brazil.
DESIGN
Prevalence survey.
ANIMALS
101 Thoroughbreds in Brazil.
PROCEDURE
Blood samples were obtained from horses and tested for serum antibodies against S neurona by use of an immunoblot procedure with culture-derived S neurona merozoites as antigen, and for serum antibodies against T gondii and N caninum by use of a modified agglutination test with formalin-preserved tachyzoites and mercaptoethanol.
RESULTS
Antibodies against S neurona and T gondii were detected in 36 and 16 of 101 horses, respectively. Cross-reactivity between antibodies against T gondii and S neurona was not detected. Antibodies against N caninum were not detected in any samples.
CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE
The high prevalence of antibodies against S neurona detected in clinically normal horses emphasizes the importance of examining CSF for antibodies when establishing a diagnosis of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis.
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