EQUINE PROTOZOAL MYELOENCEPHALITIS (EPM) IN AN IMPORTED PAINT HORSE

The paper reports a case of EPM in a seven year old paint mare, which has been imported from Florida/USA six months ago. In late pregnancy t he mare was referred to our clinic with severe neurologic disorders ch aracterized by ataxia, facial paresis, dullness, and considerable prob lems with uptake of food and water. By analysis of CSF mononuclear ple ocytosis, elevated protein and lactate concentrations were detected. S ero-immunological analyses of blood and CSF excluded any viral infecti ons of the central nervous system, e. g. Borna disease, tickborne ence phalitis, and herpesvirus encephalitis. The tentative diagnosis oi act ive EPM made by history and clinical pathology was confirmed by positi ve Western Blot reactivity on CSF and detected antibodies to Sarcocyst is neurona, During a three week chemotherapy by trimethoprime sulfonam ide and palliative treatment the clinical findings of the mare improve d. Alter a spontaneous foaling the mare and the foal were discharged f rom our hospital in a good condition. To avoid relapse of EPM the cont inuation of trimethoprime sulfonamide therapy orally for a minimum dur ation of 90 days was considered as necessary.