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immune response to sarcocystis neurona infection in naturally infected horses with equine protozoal myeloencephalitis.equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (epm) is one of the most common neurologic diseases of horses in the united states. the primary etiologic agent is sarcocystis neurona. currently, there is limited knowledge regarding the protective or pathophysiologic immune response to s. neurona infection or the subsequent development of epm. the objectives of this study were to determine whether s. neurona infected horses with clinical signs of epm had altered or suppressed immune responses compared to neur ...200616563631
development and evaluation of a sarcocystis neurona-specific igm capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (epm) is a serious neurologic disease of horses caused primarily by the protozoal parasite sarcocystis neurona. currently available antemortem diagnostic testing has low specificity. the hypothesis of this study was that serum and cerebrospinal fluid (csf) of horses experimentally challenged with s neurona would have an increased s neurona-specific igm (sn-igm) concentration after infection, as determined by an igm capture enzyme linked immunoassay (elisa). the ...200616594589
indirect fluorescent antibody testing of cerebrospinal fluid for diagnosis of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis.to assess the use of csf testing with an indirect fluorescent antibody test (ifat) for diagnosis of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (epm) caused by sarcocystis neurona.200616649923
genetic variation among isolates of sarcocystis neurona, the agent of protozoal myeloencephalitis, as revealed by amplified fragment length polymorphism markers.sarcocystis neurona causes serious neurological disease in horses and other vertebrates in the americas. based on epidemiological data, this parasite has recently emerged. here, the genetic diversity of sarcocystis neurona was evaluated using the amplified fragment length polymorphism (aflp) method. fifteen s. neurona taxa from different regions collected over the last 10 years were used; six isolates were from clinically diseased horses, eight isolates were from wild-caught opossums (didelphis ...200616714575
neospora caninum associated with septic peritonitis in an adult dog.a 7-year-old, male neutered rhodesian ridgeback dog was referred to the university of california-davis veterinary medical teaching hospital with a 4-month history of peritonitis and episodic abdominal discomfort, lethargy, and weakness. marked abdominal distension with a prominent fluid wave was noted on physical examination. cytologic analysis of the abdominal fluid indicated a septic exudate with mixed bacteria and many protozoal zoites. differentials for the identity of the protozoal zoites i ...200616783720
identification of a dithiol-dependent nucleoside triphosphate hydrolase in sarcocystis neurona.a putative nucleoside triphosphate hydrolase (ntpase) gene was identified in a database of expressed sequence tags (ests) from the apicomplexan parasite sarcocystis neurona. analysis of culture-derived s. neurona merozoites demonstrated a dithiol-dependent ntpase activity, consistent with the presence of a homologue to the tgntpases of toxoplasma gondii. a complete cdna was obtained for the s. neurona gene and the predicted amino acid sequence shared 38% identity with the two tgntpase isoforms f ...200616790243
molecular genetic transfection of the coccidian parasite sarcocystis neurona.sarcocystis neurona is an apicomplexan parasite that is the major cause of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (epm). the biology of this pathogen remains poorly understood in part due to unavailability of molecular genetic tools. hence, with an objective to develop dna transfection capabilities for s. neurona, the 5' flanking region of the snsag1 gene was isolated from a genomic library and used to construct expression plasmids. in transient assays, the reporter molecules beta-galactosidase (bet ...200616844242
prophylactic administration of ponazuril reduces clinical signs and delays seroconversion in horses challenged with sarcocystis neurona.the ability of ponazuril to prevent or limit clinical signs of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (epm) after infection with sarcocystis neurona was evaluated. eighteen horses were assigned to 1 of 3 groups: no treatment, 2.5 mg/kg ponazuril, or 5.0 mg/kg ponazuril. horses were administered ponazuril, once per day, beginning 7 days before infection (study day 0) and continuing for 28 days postinfection. on day 0, horses were stressed by transport and challenged with 1 million s. neurona sporocys ...200616884012
molecular and microscopic techniques for detection of sarcocystis neurona sporocysts in fecal samples.diagnosis of sarcocystis sp. in the definitive host is generally by microscopic detection of the sporocysts in feces. this method is insensitive and cannot differentiate between species because sporocysts lack specific staining criteria. the hypothesis suggested that molecular techniques provide better alternatives to classical detection of sarcocystis sporocysts. the sensitivity of two pcr assays was compared to one another and to microscopic examination by conventional fecal flotation and diam ...200616927879
persistence of serum antibodies to sarcocystis neurona in horses moved from north america to india.the study reported here was undertaken to assess the presence of antibodies to sarcocystis neurona in the serum of horses of north american origin that had been relocated for 1 year or more to india (ie, outside of the known endemic areas for s. neurona).200616955828
cytokine gene signatures in neural tissue of horses with equine protozoal myeloencephalitis or equine herpes type 1 myeloencephalopathy.this study was designed to determine the relative levels of gene transcription of selected pathogens and cytokines in the brain and spinal cord of 12 horses with equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (epm), 11 with equine herpesvirus type 1 (ehv-1) myeloencephalopathy, and 12 healthy control horses by applying a real time pcr to the formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissues. total rna was extracted from each tissue, transcribed to complementary dna (cdna) and assayed for sarcocystis neurona, neo ...200616963713
fatal hepatic sarcocystosis in a puppy with eosinophilia and eosinophilic peritoneal effusion.a 3-month-old male golden retriever puppy was evaluated for lethargy and fever of 2-days duration. results of a cbc and biochemical profile revealed marked eosinophilia (6.3 x 10(3)/microl; reference interval 0.1-1.2 x 10(3)/microl), moderate thrombocytopenia, and increased activities of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and creatine kinase. hepatomegaly and peritoneal effusion were found using abdominal ultrasound. peritoneal fluid analysis revealed eosinophilic inflammation ...200616967426
clinical sarcocystis neurona, sarcocystis canis, toxoplasma gondii, and neospora caninum infections in dogs.sarcocystis neurona, sarcocystis canis, toxoplasma gondii, and neospora caninum are related apicomplexans that can cause systemic illness in many species of animals, including dogs. we investigated one breeder's 25 basset hounds for these infections. in addition, tissues from dogs and other non-canine hosts previously reported as s. canis infections were studied retrospectively. schizonts resembling those of s. neurona, and recognized by polyclonal rabbit anti-s. neurona antibodies, were found i ...200616458431
a genetically diverse but distinct north american population of sarcocystis neurona includes an overrepresented clone described by 12 microsatellite alleles.the population genetics and systematics of most coccidians remain poorly defined despite their impact on human and veterinary health. non-recombinant parasite clones characterized by distinct transmission and pathogenesis traits persist in the coccidian toxoplasma gondii despite opportunities for sexual recombination. in order to determine whether this may be generally true for tissue-cyst forming coccidia, and to address evolutionary and taxonomic problems within the genus sarcocystis, we chara ...200616488197
penetration of equine leukocytes by merozoites of sarcocystis neurona.horses are considered accidental hosts for sarcocystis neurona and they often develop severe neurological disease when infected with this parasite. schizont stages develop in the central nervous system (cns) and cause the neurological lesions associated with equine protozoal myeloencephalitis. the present study was done to examine the ability of s. neurona merozoites to penetrate and develop in equine peripheral blood leukocytes. these infected host cells might serve as a possible transport mech ...200616517080
lack of sarcocystis neurona antibody response in virginia opossums (didelphis virginiana) fed sarcocystis neurona-infected muscle tissue.serum was collected from laboratory-reared virginia opossums (didelphis virginiana) to determine whether experimentally infected opossums shedding sarcocystis neurona sporocysts develop serum antibodies to s. neurona merozoite antigens. three opossums were fed muscles from nine-banded armadillos (dasypus novemcinctus), and 5 were fed muscles from striped skunks (mephitis mephitis). serum was also collected from 26 automobile-killed opossums to determine whether antibodies to s. neurona were pres ...200616884017
seroprevalence of toxoplasma gondii, sarcocystis neurona, and encephalitozoon cuniculi in three species of lemurs from st. catherines island, ga, usa.in the current study, we determined the seroprevalence of toxoplasma gondii, sarcocystis neurona, and encephalitozoon cuniculi in three species of lemurs from st. catherines island, georgia. serum samples were tested from 52 ring-tailed lemurs (lemur catta), six blue-eyed black lemurs (eulemur macaco flavifrons), and four black and white ruffed lemurs (varecia variegata variegata) using an agglutination assay. three ring-tailed lemurs (5.8%) were positive for t. gondii (titer of 1:50); one ring- ...200717052854
does human proximity affect antibody prevalence in marine-foraging river otters (lontra canadensis)?the investigation of diseases of free-ranging river otters (lontra canadensis) is a primary conservation priority for this species; however, very little is known about diseases of river otters that forage in marine environments. to identify and better understand pathogens that could be important to marine-foraging river otters, other wildlife species, domestic animals, and humans and to determine if proximity to human population could be a factor in disease exposure, serum samples from 55 free-r ...200717347401
effects of blood contamination of cerebrospinal fluid on results of indirect fluorescent antibody tests for detection of antibodies against sarcocystis neurona and neospora hughesi.the purpose of this study was to determine the effect of blood contamination of cerebrospinal fluid (csf) on the results of indirect fluorescent antibody tests (ifats) for sarcocystis neurona and neospora hughesi. the in vitro study used antibody-negative csf collected from non-neurologic horses immediately after euthanasia and blood samples from 40 healthy horses that had a range of ifat antibody titers against s. neurona and n. hughesi. serial dilutions of whole blood were made in seronegative ...200717459859
protozoal meningoencephalitis in sea otters (enhydra lutris): a histopathological and immunohistochemical study of naturally occurring cases.protozoal meningoencephalitis is considered to be an important cause of mortality in the california sea otter (enhydra lutris). thirty nine of 344 (11.3%) california (ca) and washington state (wa) sea otters examined from 1985 to 2004 had histopathological evidence of significant protozoal meningoencephalitis. the aetiological agents and histopathological changes associated with these protozoal infections are described. the morphology of the actively multiplicative life stages of the organisms ( ...200717692867
molecular typing of sarcocystis neurona: current status and future trends.sarcocystis neurona is an important protozoal pathogen because it causes the serious neurological disease equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (epm). the capacity of this organism to cause a wide spectrum of neurological signs in horses and the broad geographic distribution of observed cases in the americas drive the need for sensitive, reliable and rapid typing methods to characterize strains. various molecular methods have been developed and used to diagnose epm due to s. neurona, to identify s. ...200717706872
sarcocystis sp.-associated meningoencephalitis in a bald eagle (haliaeetus leucocephalus).protozoal meningoencephalitis is uncommon in raptors. an adult female bald eagle (haliaeetus leucocephalus) was euthanized after several months of treatment for progressive neurologic signs. the predominant histologic lesion was lymphoplasmacytic and histiocytic meningoencephalitis involving the cerebrum and cerebellum. there was a marked segmental loss of granular cells and purkinje cells, as well as segmental atrophy of the molecular layer in the cerebellum. protozoal merozoites and schizonts ...200717823405
chronic polymyositis associated with disseminated sarcocystosis in a captive-born rhesus macaque.a 2-year-old, captive-born, clinically healthy male, rhesus macaque, was euthanatized as part of an experimental study. at necropsy, diffuse pale streaking of the trunk, lumbar, and limb muscles were noted macroscopically. on histology, numerous elongated cysts that contained crescent-shaped basophilic spores were found in the fibers of skeletal muscles. scattered affected myofibers were degenerate and accompanied by eosinophilic-to-granulomatous inflammation. sarcocysts had prominent villus-lik ...200717846244
sarcocystis neurona encephalitis in a dog.a 1.5-year-old male feist dog was presented to a veterinarian for reluctance to stand on the hind legs. treatment included dexamethasone and resulted in a favorable initial response, but posterior paresis returned and progressed to recumbency, hyperesthesia, and attempts to bite the owner. the dog was euthanized. the brain was negative for rabies by fluorescent antibody analysis. multiple foci of encephalitis were found in the cerebrum and particularly in the cerebellum. protozoa morphologically ...200718039914
early migration of sarcocystis neurona in ponies fed sporocysts.sarcocystis neurona is the most important cause of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (epm), a neurologic disease of the horse. in the present work, the kinetics of s. neurona invasion is determined in the equine model. six ponies were orally inoculated with 250 x 10(6) s. neurona sporocysts via nasogastric intubation and killed on days 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, and 9 postinoculation (pi). at necropsy, tissue samples were examined for s. neurona infection. the parasite was isolated from the mesenteric lymp ...200718163363
modest genetic differentiation among north american populations of sarcocystis neurona may reflect expansion in its geographic range.sarcocystis neurona is an important cause of neurological disease in horses (equine protozoal myeloencephalitis, epm) and sea otters in the united states. in addition, epm-like disease has been diagnosed in several other land and marine mammals. opossums are its only definitive hosts. little genetic diversity among isolates of s. neurona from different hosts has been reported. here, we used 11 microsatellites to characterize s. neurona dna isolated from natural infections in 22 sea otters (enhyd ...200818243561
investigation of snspr1, a novel and abundant surface protein of sarcocystis neurona merozoites.an expressed sequence tag (est) sequencing project has produced over 15,000 partial cdna sequences from the equine pathogen sarcocystis neurona. while many of the sequences are clear homologues of previously characterized genes, a significant number of the s. neurona ests do not exhibit similarity to anything in the extensive sequence databases that have been generated. in an effort to characterize parasite proteins that are novel to s. neurona, a seemingly unique gene was selected for further i ...200818291589
transplacental toxoplasmosis in a wild southern sea otter (enhydra lutris nereis).in september 2004, a neonatal sea otter pup was found alive on the beach in northern monterey bay, ca. efforts to locate the mother were unsuccessful. due to a poor prognosis for successful rehabilitation, the pup was euthanized. postmortem examination revealed emaciation, systemic lymphadenopathy and a malformation of the left cerebral temporal lobe. on histopathology, free tachyzoites and tissue cysts compatible with toxoplasma gondii were observed in the brain, heart, thymus, liver, lymph nod ...200818304737
effect of intermittent oral administration of ponazuril on experimental sarcocystis neurona infection of horses.to evaluate the effect of intermittent oral administration of ponazuril on immunoconversion against sarcocystis neurona in horses inoculated intragastrically with s neurona sporocysts.200818312139
antibody index and specific antibody quotient in horses after intragastric administration of sarcocystis neurona sporocysts.to investigate the use of a specific antibody index (ai) that relates sarcocystis neurona-specific igg quotient (q(sn)) to total igg quotient (q(igg)) for the detection of the anti-s neurona antibody fraction of cns origin in csf samples obtained from horses after intragastric administration of s neurona sporocysts.200818312140
brown-headed cowbirds (molothrus ater) harbor sarcocystis neurona and act as intermediate hosts.we tested the hypothesis that brown-headed cowbirds (molothrus ater) harbor sarcocystis neurona, the agent of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (epm), and act as intermediate hosts for this parasite. in summer 1999, wild caught brown-headed cowbirds were collected and necropsied to determine infection rate with sarcocystis spp. by macroscopic inspection. seven of 381 (1.8%) birds had grossly visible sarcocysts in leg muscles with none in breast muscles. histopathology revealed two classes of sa ...200818342449
sarcocystis neurona: molecular characterization of enolase domain i region and a comparison to other protozoa.sarcocystis neurona causes protozoal myeloencephalitis and has the ability to infect a wide host range in contrast to other sarcocystis species. in the current study, five s. neurona isolates from a variety of sources, three sarcocystis falcatula, one sarcocystis dasypi/s. neurona-like isolate, and one besnoitia darlingi isolate were used to compare the enolase 2 gene segment containing the domain i region to previously sequenced enolase genes from neospora caninum, neospora hughesi, toxoplasma ...200818625501
snsag5 is an alternative surface antigen of sarcocystis neurona strains that is mutually exclusive to snsag1.sarcocystis neurona is an obligate intracellular parasite that causes equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (epm). previous work has identified a gene family of paralogous surface antigens in s. neurona called snsags. these surface proteins are immunogenic in their host animals, and are therefore candidate molecules for development of diagnostics and vaccines. however, snsag diversity exists in strains of s. neurona, including the absence of the major surface antigen gene snsag1. instead, sequence ...200818829171
horses experimentally infected with sarcocystis neurona develop altered immune responses in vitro.equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (epm) due to sarcocystis neurona infection is 1 of the most common neurologic diseases in horses in the united states. the mechanisms by which most horses resist disease, as well as the possible mechanisms by which the immune system may be suppressed in horses that develop epm, are not known. therefore, the objectives of this study were to determine whether horses experimentally infected with s. neurona developed suppressed immune responses. thirteen horses tha ...200818973416
strains of sarcocystis neurona exhibit differences in their surface antigens, including the absence of the major surface antigen snsag1.a gene family of surface antigens is expressed by merozoites of sarcocystis neurona, the primary cause of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (epm). these surface proteins, designated snsags, are immunodominant and therefore excellent candidates for development of epm diagnostics or vaccines. prior work had identified an epm isolate lacking the major surface antigen snsag1, thus suggesting there may be some diversity in the snsags expressed by different s. neurona isolates. therefore, a bioinform ...200817980881
diagnosis and treatment of sarcocystis neurona in a captive harbor seal (phoca vitulina).a captive harbor seal (phoca vitulina) presented with partial anorexia, ataxia, and head bobbing, which progressed to complete anorexia, lethargy, and persistent whole-body intention tremors within several days. response to treatment with ponazuril, serology, and cerebrospinal fluid analysis supported a diagnosis of sarcocystis neurona. analysis of serum levels for ponazuril indicated that therapeutic levels could be achieved at a dosage of 5 mg/kg p.o. s.i.d., whereas clinical response was impr ...200818634214
characterization of sarcocystis from four species of hawks from georgia, usa.during 2001 to 2004, 4 species of hawks (buteo and accipiter spp.) from georgia were surveyed for sarcocystis spp. infections by examining intestinal sections. in total, 159 of 238 (66.8%) hawks examined were infected with sarcocystis spp. samples from 10 birds were characterized by sequence analysis of a portion of the 18s rrna gene (783 base pairs). only 3 of the 10 sequences from the hawks were identical; the remainder differed by at least 1 nucleotide. phylogenetic analysis failed to resolve ...200918576854
prevalence and risk factors associated with sarcocystis neurona infections in opossums (didelphis virginiana) from central california.sarcocystis neurona, a protozoal parasite shed by opossums (didelphis virginiana), has been shown to cause significant morbidity and mortality in horses, sea otters, and other marine mammals. over the course of 3 years (fall 2005-summer 2008), opossums from central california were tested for infection with s. neurona. of 288 opossums sampled, 17 (5.9%) were infected with s. neurona based on the molecular characterization of sporocysts from intestinal scrapings or feces. risk factors evaluated fo ...200919735983
ultrastructural and molecular confirmation of the development of sarcocystis neurona tissue cysts in the central nervous system of southern sea otters (enhydra lutris nereis).in 2004, three wild sea otters were diagnosed with putative sarcocystis neurona-associated meningoencephalitis by histopathology and immunohistochemistry. schizonts, free merozoites and tissue cysts were observed in the brains of all three infected animals. tissue cysts walls from sea otter 1 (so1) stained positively using anti-s. neurona polyclonal antiserum. however, positive staining does not preclude infection by closely related or cross-reactive tissue cyst-forming coccidian parasites. two ...200919527725
has sarcocystis neurona dubey et al., 1991 (sporozoa: apicomplexa: sarcocystidae) cospeciated with its intermediate hosts?the question of how sarcocystis neurona is able to overcome species barrier and adapt to new hosts is central to the understanding of both the evolutionary origin of s. neurona and the prediction of its field host range. therefore, it is worth reviewing current knowledge on s. neurona host specificity. the available host range data for s. neurona are discussed in relation to a subject of evolutionary importance-specialist or generalist and its implications to understand the strategies of host ad ...200919375231
prey choice and habitat use drive sea otter pathogen exposure in a resource-limited coastal system.the processes promoting disease in wild animal populations are highly complex, yet identifying these processes is critically important for conservation when disease is limiting a population. by combining field studies with epidemiologic tools, we evaluated the relationship between key factors impeding southern sea otter (enhydra lutris nereis) population growth: disease and resource limitation. this threatened population has struggled to recover despite protection, so we followed radio-tagged se ...200919164513
a novel sarcocystis-associated encephalitis and myositis in racing pigeons.sarcosporidian cysts in the skeletal muscle of domestic pigeons (columba livia f. domestica) have previously been attributed to infection with sarcocystis falcatula, which is shed in the faeces of the opossum (didelphis virginiana). here, we describe fatal spontaneous encephalitis and myositis associated with sarcocystis infections in three flocks of racing pigeons with 47 of 244 animals affected. the clinical course was characterized by depression, mild diarrhoea, torticollis, opisthotonus, par ...200919322710
in vitro efficacy of nitro- and halogeno-thiazolide/thiadiazolide derivatives against sarcocystis neurona.sarcocystis neurona is an obligate intracellular parasite that causes equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (epm). the aim of this work was to document inhibitory activities of nitazoxanide (ntz, [2-acetolyloxy-n-(5-nitro 2-thiazolyl) benzamide]) and new thiazolides/thiadiazolides on s. neurona in vitro development, and investigate their structure-activity relationships. s. neurona was grown in bovine turbinate cell cultures. at concentrations varying from 1.0 to 5.0mg/l, nitazoxanide and 21 of 32 ...200919369006
the heptanucleotide motif gagacgc is a key component of a cis-acting promoter element that is critical for snsag1 expression in sarcocystis neurona.the apicomplexan parasite sarcocystis neurona undergoes a complex process of intracellular development, during which many genes are temporally regulated. the described study was undertaken to begin identifying the basic promoter elements that control gene expression in s. neurona. sequence analysis of the 5'-flanking region of five s. neurona genes revealed a conserved heptanucleotide motif gagacgc that is similar to the wgagacg motif described upstream of multiple genes in toxoplasma gondii. th ...200919428678
evidence that antibodies against recombinant snsag1 of sarcocystis neurona merozoites are involved in infection and immunity in equine protozoal myeloencephalitis.sarcocystis neurona is the principal etiologic agent of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (epm). an immunodominant protein of s. neurona, snsag-1, is expressed by the majority of s. neurona merozoites isolated from spinal tissues of horses diagnosed with epm and may be a candidate for diagnostic tests and prophylaxis for epm. five horses were vaccinated with adjuvanted recombinant snsag1 (rsnsag1) and 5 control (sham vaccinated) horses were vaccinated with adjuvant only. serum was evaluated pre ...200919794889
prevalence of antibodies to trypanosoma cruzi, leishmania infantum, encephalitozoon cuniculi, sarcocystis neurona, and neospora caninum in capybara, hydrochoerus hydrochaeris, from são paulo state, brazil.little is known about the importance of capybara, hydrochoerus hydrochaeris, as reservoirs for parasites of zoonotic or veterinary importance. sera from 63 capybaras, from 6 counties in the state of são paulo, brazil, were examined for antibodies to trypanosoma cruzi, leishmania infantum, encephalitozoon cuniculi, sarcocystis neurona, and neospora caninum using an indirect immunofluorescent antibody test. five (8%) of the 63 capybaras had antibodies to t. cruzi epimastigotes. none of the samples ...201020020808
limited genetic diversity among sarcocystis neurona strains infecting southern sea otters precludes distinction between marine and terrestrial isolates.sarcocystis neurona is an apicomplexan parasite identified as a cause of fatal neurological disease in the threatened southern sea otter (enhydra lutris nereis). in an effort to characterize virulent s. neurona strains circulating in the marine ecosystem, this study developed a range of markers relevant for molecular genotyping. highly conserved sequences within the 18s ribosomal gene array, the plastid-encoded rna polymerase (rpob) and the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 mitochondrial gene (co1) ...201020071081
rhinitis and disseminated disease in a ferret (mustela putorius furo) naturally infected with sarcocystis neurona.naturally occurring sarcocystis neurona infection in a ferret (mustela putorius furo) with rhinitis and disseminated disease are described for the first time. the ferret exhibited severe rhinitis with intra-lesional s. neurona merozoites and schizonts. diagnosis was confirmed immunohistochemically by staining with s. neurona-specific antibodies, and by phylogenetic analyses of conserved and variable portions of nuclear ribosomal dna. on the basis of intense schizogony in the nasal mucosa, we pro ...201020106599
molecular characterization of sarcocystis neurona strains from opossums (didelphis virginiana) and intermediate hosts from central california.sarcocystis neurona is a significant cause of neurological disease in horses and other animals, including the threatened southern sea otter (enhydra lutris nereis). opossums (didelphis virginiana), the only known definitive hosts for s. neurona in north america, are an introduced species in california. s. neurona dna isolated from sporocysts and/or infected tissues of 10 opossums, 6 horses, 1 cat, 23 southern sea otters, and 1 harbor porpoise (phocoena phocoena) with natural infections was analy ...201020226596
systemic sarcocystosis in a striped skunk (mephitis mephitis).a striped skunk with neurological signs was euthanized and examined via necropsy. histologically, protozoa were found in multiple tissues. protozoal schizonts measured 15 to 25 mum in diameter and contained 4 to 6 mum crescent-shaped merozoites. protozoa were associated with necrosis and inflammation in the lung, brain, liver, and nasal epithelium. immunohistochemistry labeled protozoa strongly positive for sarcocystis neurona. polymerase chain reaction-amplified products from the protozoan were ...201020375428
prevalence of antibodies to sarcocystis neurona in cats from virginia and pennsylvania.sarcocystis neurona is best known as the causative agent of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis of horses in the americas. domestic cats ( felis domesticus ) were the first animals described as an intermediate host for s. neurona . however, s. neurona -associated encephalitis has also been reported in naturally infected cats in the united states. thus, cats can be implicated in the life cycle of s. neurona as natural intermediate hosts. the present study examined the seroprevalence of igg antibod ...201020476809
morphologic and molecular characterization of the sarcocysts of sarcocystis rileyi (apicomplexa: sarcocystidae) from the mallard duck ( anas platyrhynchos ).macroscopic sarcocysts are often observed in ducks, but at present their taxonomic status remains uncertain because ducks serve as intermediate hosts for several such parasites in the genus sarcocystis . one such species, sarcocystis rileyi , was long ago established to involve the northern shoveler duck ( anas clypeata ) and the striped skunk ( mephitis mephitis ) as its intermediate and definitive hosts, respectively. here, we employed light microscopy, electron microscopy, and dna sequencing ...201020496959
rng1 is a late marker of the apical polar ring in toxoplasma gondii.the asexually proliferating stages of apicomplexan parasites cause acute symptoms of diseases such as malaria, cryptosporidiosis and toxoplasmosis. these stages are characterized by the presence of two independent microtubule organizing centers (mtocs). centrioles are found at the poles of the intranuclear spindle. the apical polar ring (apr), a mtoc unique to apicomplexans, organizes subpellicular microtubules which impose cell shape and apical polarity on these protozoa. here we describe the c ...201020658557
utility of 2 immunological tests for antemortem diagnosis of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (sarcocystis neurona infection) in naturally occurring cases.antemortem diagnosis of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (epm) is challenging. limited information is available regarding a commercial test (surface antigen 1 [sag-1] elisa). performance of another commercial test (indirect fluorescent antibody test [ifat]) using samples from an independent group has not been well described.201020707841
improved detection of equine antibodies against sarcocystis neurona using polyvalent elisas based on the parasite snsag surface antigens.equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (epm) is a common neurologic disease of horses that is caused by the apicomplexan pathogen sarcocystis neurona. to help improve serologic diagnosis of s. neurona infection, we have modified existing enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (elisas) based on the immunogenic parasite surface antigens snsag2, snsag3, and snsag4 to make the assays polyvalent, thereby circumventing difficulties associated with parasite antigenic variants and diversity in equine immune res ...201021075532
antibody coefficients for the diagnosis of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis.diagnosis of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (epm) remains a challenge for equine practitioners. current utilized methods have inadequate sensitivity and specificity, because of a high number of false positive results. hypothesis/objective: evaluation of antibody indices to sarcocystis neurona should provide high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis of epm.201021155894
prevalence of antibodies to trypanosoma cruzi, toxoplasma gondii, encephalitozoon cuniculi, sarcocystis neurona, besnoitia darlingi, and neospora caninum in north american opossums, didelphis virginiana, from southern louisiana.we examined the prevalence of antibodies to zoonotic protozoan parasites ( trypanosoma cruzi, toxoplasma gondii, and encephalitozoon cuniculi) and protozoans of veterinary importance ( neospora caninum, sarcocystis neurona, and besnoitia darlingi) in a population of north american opossums ( didelphis virginiana) from louisiana. samples from 30 opossums were collected as part of a survey for t. cruzi in louisiana. frozen sera from these 30 opossums were examined using an indirect immunofluoresce ...201021158620
self-mating in the definitive host potentiates clonal outbreaks of the apicomplexan parasites sarcocystis neurona and toxoplasma gondii.tissue-encysting coccidia, including toxoplasma gondii and sarcocystis neurona, are heterogamous parasites with sexual and asexual life stages in definitive and intermediate hosts, respectively. during its sexual life stage, t. gondii reproduces either by genetic out-crossing or via clonal amplification of a single strain through self-mating. out-crossing has been experimentally verified as a potent mechanism capable of producing offspring possessing a range of adaptive and virulence potentials. ...201021203443
sarcocystis sp. encephalomyelitis in a cat.a 5-month-old male neutered domestic shorthair cat was evaluated for spinal pain, ataxia, and anisocoria. neuroanatomic localization indicated diffuse or multifocal central nervous system disease. on cerebrospinal fluid analysis, neutrophilic pleocytosis and intracellular protozoal merozoites were observed. the merozoites were oval, 2-4 microm in width and 4-6 microm in length, and had linear arrays of nuclear material concentrated at one pole. serum was positive for sarcocystis sp. antibodies a ...201019548967
enteric bacterial pathogen detection in southern sea otters (enhydra lutris nereis) is associated with coastal urbanization and freshwater runoff.although protected for nearly a century, california's sea otters have been slow to recover, in part due to exposure to fecally-associated protozoal pathogens like toxoplasma gondii and sarcocystis neurona. however, potential impacts from exposure to fecal bacteria have not been systematically explored. using selective media, we examined feces from live and dead sea otters from california for specific enteric bacterial pathogens (campylobacter, salmonella, clostridium perfringens, c. difficile an ...201019720009
a protozoal-associated epizootic impacting marine wildlife: mass-mortality of southern sea otters (enhydra lutris nereis) due to sarcocystis neurona infection.during april 2004, 40 sick and dead southern sea otters (enhydra lutris nereis) were recovered over 18km of coastline near morro bay, california. this event represented the single largest monthly spike in mortality ever recorded during 30 years of southern sea otter stranding data collection. because of the point-source nature of the event and clinical signs consistent with severe, acute neurological disease, exposure to a chemical or marine toxin was initially considered. however, detailed post ...201020615616
discovery of three novel coccidian parasites infecting california sea lions (zalophus californianus) with evidence of sexual replication and interspecies pathogenicity.abstract enteric protozoal infection was identified in 5 stranded california sea lions (zalophus californianus). microscopically, the apical cytoplasm of distal jejunal enterocytes contained multiple stages of coccidian parasites, including schizonts with merozoites and spherical gametocytes, morphologically similar to coccidian parasites. by histopathology, organisms appeared to be confined to the intestine and accompanied by only mild enteritis. using electron microscopy, both sexual (microgam ...201121495828
serological response of cats to experimental besnoitia darlingi and besnoitia neotomofelis infections and prevalence of antibodies to these parasites in cats from virginia and pennsylvania.abstract besnoitia darlingi and besnoitia neotomofelis are cyst-forming tissue apicomplexan parasites that use domestic cats ( felis domesticus ) as definitive hosts and opossums ( didelphis virginiana ) and southern plains woodrats ( neotoma micropus ) as intermediate hosts, respectively. nothing is known about the prevalence of b. darlingi or b. neotomofelis in cats from the united states. besnoitia darlingi infections have been reported in naturally infected opossums from many states in the u ...201121506782
detection of antibodies against sarcocystis neurona , neospora spp., and toxoplasma gondii in horses from costa rica.abstract serum samples from 315 horses from costa rica, central america, were examined for the presence of antibodies against sarcocystis neurona , neospora spp., and toxoplasma gondii by using the surface antigen (sag) snsag2 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (elisa), the nhsag1 elisa, and the modified agglutination test, respectively. anti- s. neurona antibodies were found in 42.2% of the horses by using the snsag2 elisa. anti- neospora spp. antibodies were found in only 3.5% of the horses by ...201121506839
polyparasitism is associated with increased disease severity in toxoplasma gondii-infected marine sentinel species.in 1995, one of the largest outbreaks of human toxoplasmosis occurred in the pacific northwest region of north america. genetic typing identified a novel toxoplasma gondii strain linked to the outbreak, in which a wide spectrum of human disease was observed. for this globally-distributed, water-borne zoonosis, strain type is one variable influencing disease, but the inability of strain type to consistently explain variations in disease severity suggests that parasite genotype alone does not dete ...201121629726
sarcocystis neurona retinochoroiditis in a sea otter (enhydra lutris kenyoni).sarcocystis neurona is an important cause of fatal disease in sea otters in the usa. encephalitis is the predominant lesion and parasites are confined to the central nervous system and muscles. here we report retinochoroiditis in a sea otter (enhydra lutris kenyoni) found dead on copalis beach, wa, usa. salient lesions were confined to the brain and eye. multifocal nonsuppurative meningoencephalitis was present in the cerebrum and cerebellum associated with s. neurona schizonts. the retina of on ...201121782345
the snsag merozoite surface antigens of sarcocystis neurona are expressed differentially during the bradyzoite and sporozoite life cycle stages.sarcocystis neurona is a two-host coccidian parasite whose complex life cycle progresses through multiple developmental stages differing at morphological and molecular levels. the s. neurona merozoite surface is covered by multiple, related glycosylphosphatidylinositol-linked proteins, which are orthologous to the surface antigen (sag)/sag1-related sequence (srs) gene family of toxoplasma gondii. expression of the sag/srs proteins in t. gondii and another related parasite neospora caninum is lif ...201121775062
assessment of clinical pathology and pathogen exposure in sea otters (enhydra lutris) bordering the threatened population in alaska.northern sea otter (enhydra lutris kenyoni) abundance has decreased dramatically over portions of southwest alaska, usa, since the mid-1980s, and this stock is currently listed as threatened under the endangered species act. in contrast, adjacent populations in south central alaska, usa, and russia have been stable to increasing during the same period. sea otters bordering the area classified in the recent decline were live-captured during 2004-2006 at bering island, russia, and the kodiak archi ...201121719822
severe myositis associated with sarcocystis spp. infection in 2 dogs.dogs are definitive hosts for numerous species of the intracellular protozoan parasite sarcocystis. reports of sarcocysts in muscles of dogs most often represent incidental findings.201122092617
canine distemper in an isolated population of fishers (martes pennanti) from california.four fishers (martes pennanti) from an insular population in the southern sierra nevada mountains, california, usa died as a consequence of an infection with canine distemper virus (cdv) in 2009. three fishers were found in close temporal and spatial relationship; the fourth fisher died 4 mo later at a 70 km distance from the initial group. gross lesions were restricted to hyperkeratosis of periocular skin and ulceration of footpads. all animals had necrotizing bronchitis and bronchiolitis with ...201223060505
vascular mineralization in the brain of horses.vascular mineralization (siderocalcinosis) in the brain of horses has been usually assumed to be an incidental age-related finding with no clinic significance. in the present study, eight 15-32-year-old horses of different breeds with cerebral siderocalcinosis were studied. four of these horses had acute and severe central nervous system clinical signs of unknown etiology, 2 horses had neurological signs of known cause, and 2 horses did not have neurological signs. gross examination of the brain ...201222529137
temporal association between land-based runoff events and california sea otter (enhydra lutris nereis) protozoal mortalities.toxoplasma gondii and sarcocystis neurona have caused significant morbidity and mortality in threatened southern sea otters (enhydra lutris nereis) along the central california coast. because only terrestrial animals are known to serve as definitive hosts for t. gondii and s. neurona, infections in otters suggest a land to sea flow of these protozoan pathogens. to better characterize the role of overland runoff in delivery of terrestrially derived fecal pathogens to the near shore, we assessed t ...201222493114
the importance of vertical transmission of neospora sp. in naturally infected horses.neospora spp. is a intracellular protozoan phylogenetically closely related to toxoplasma gondii and sarcocystis neurona, and it can infect horses leading to the development of reproductive or neurological diseases. we determined the presence of antibodies to neospora sp. in mares at their parturition time and determine the frequency of vertical transmission in healthy foals to verify the importance of transplacental transmission. the samples were analyzed by indirect immunofluorescence antibody ...201222436425
diagnosis and treatment of sarcocystis neurona-induced myositis in a free-ranging california sea lion.an underweight, lethargic adult female california sea lion (zalophus californianus) became stranded along the california shore and was captured and transported to a rehabilitation hospital for assessment and care.201222256850
exposure to sarcocystis spp. in horses from spain determined by western blot analysis using sarcocystis neurona merozoites as heterologous antigen.horses serve as an intermediate host for several species of sarcocystis, all of which utilize canids as the definitive host. sarcocystis spp. infection and formation of latent sarcocysts in horses often appears to be subclinical, but morbidity can occur, especially when the parasite burden is large. a serological survey was conducted to determine the presence of antibodies against sarcocystis spp. in seemingly healthy horses from the galicia region of spain. western blot analyses using sarcocyst ...201222019182
short communication: evaluation of the kinetics of antibodies against sarcocystis neurona in serum from seropositive healthy horses without neurological deficits treated with ponazuril paste. 201323893215
extensively variable surface antigens of sarcocystis spp. infecting brazilian marsupials in the genus didelphis occur in myriad allelic combinations, suggesting sexual recombination has aided their diversification.sarcocystis neurona and sarcocystis falcatula are very similar species of apicomplexan protozoa that use marsupials of the genus didelphis as definitive hosts. these mammals can serve as definitive hosts not only for these two parasites, but for other sarcocystis such as sarcocystis speeri and sarcocystis lindsayi. sarcocystis shed by opossums (with the exception of s. neurona) can cause disease in a great variety of birds, being commonly associated with acute pulmonary sarcocystosis in zoos. s. ...201323433642
sarcocystis neurona infection in gamma interferon gene knockout (ko) mice: comparative infectivity of sporocysts in two strains of ko mice, effect of trypsin digestion on merozoite viability, and infectivity of bradyzoites to ko mice and cell culture.the protozoan sarcocystis neurona is the primary cause of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (epm). epm or epm-like illness has been reported in horses, sea otters, and several other mammals. the gamma interferon gene knockout (ko) mouse is often used as a model to study biology and discovery of new therapies against s. neurona because it is difficult to induce clinical epm in other hosts, including horses. in the present study, infectivity of three life cycle stages (merozoites, bradyzoites, sp ...201323375195
structural and evolutionary adaptation of rhoptry kinases and pseudokinases, a family of coccidian virulence factors.the widespread protozoan parasite toxoplasma gondii interferes with host cell functions by exporting the contents of a unique apical organelle, the rhoptry. among the mix of secreted proteins are an expanded, lineage-specific family of protein kinases termed rhoptry kinases (ropks), several of which have been shown to be key virulence factors, including the pseudokinase rop5. the extent and details of the diversification of this protein family are poorly understood.201323742205
an outbreak of sarcocystis calchasi encephalitis in multiple psittacine species within an enclosed zoological aviary.a total of 5 psittacine birds in an enclosed zoological exhibit, including 2 princess parrots and 3 cockatoos of 2 different species, developed severe central nervous system clinical signs over a 2-3-month period and died or were euthanized. histologically, all birds had a lymphoplasmacytic and histiocytic encephalitis with intralesional protozoa consistent with a sarcocystis species in addition to intramuscular tissue sarcocysts. by immunohistochemical staining, merozoites in brain and tissue c ...201324081928
diagnosis and isolation of toxoplasma gondii in horses from brazilian slaughterhouses.this study aimed to investigate anti-toxoplasma gondii antibodies and to isolate the parasite from the brains of horses processed at slaughterhouses in brazil. we collected brain and blood samples from 398 horses of various ages, from six brazilian states. serum samples were evaluated by indirect fluorescent antibody test (ifat cut-off titre ≥ 1:64), and brains were submitted to mouse bioassay. among the 398 horses, positivity for t. gondii was identified in 46 (11.6%) by ifat and in 14 (3.5%) b ...201323538498
efficacy of decoquinate against sarcocystis neurona in cell cultures.decoquinate is a quinolone anticoccidial approved for use in the prevention of intestinal coccidiosis in farm animals. this compound has good activity against toxoplasma gondii and neospora caninum in cell cultures. the drug acts on the parasites' mitochondria. the activity of decoquinate against developing merozoites of 2 isolates of sarcocystis neurona was examined in cell culture. merozoite production at 10 days was completely inhibited when decoquinate was used at 20 or 240 nm. the ic50 of d ...201323523012
pathogen exposure and blood chemistry in the washington, usa population of northern sea otters (enhydra lutris kenyoni).northern sea otters (enhydra lutris kenyoni) from washington state, united states were evaluated in 2011 to determine health status and pathogen exposure. antibodies to brucella spp. (10%) and influenza a virus (23%) were detected for the first time in this population in 2011. changes in clinical pathology values (serum chemistries), exposure to pathogens, and overall health of the population over the last decade were assessed by comparing 2011 data to the data collected on this population in 20 ...201324502716
prevalence of antibodies to sarcocystis neurona and neospora hughesi in horses from mexico.equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (epm) is a debilitating disease of horses caused by sarcocystis neurona and neospora hughesi. sera from 495 horses in durango state, mexico were tested for anti-protozoal antibodies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (elisas) based on major surface antigens of these two parasites. antibodies to s. neurona were detected in 240 (48.5%) of the 495 horse sera tested with the rsnsag2/4/3 trivalent elisa. multivariate analysis showed that exposure to s. neurona ...201324016396
equine protozoal myeloencephalitis.equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (epm) can be caused by either of 2 related protozoan parasites, sarcocystis neurona and neospora hughesi, although s. neurona is the most frequent etiologic pathogen. horses are commonly infected, but clinical disease occurs infrequently; the factors influencing disease occurrence are not well understood. risk factors for the development of epm include the presence of opossums and prior stressful health-related events. attempts to reproduce epm experimentally h ...201425441115
serological investigation of transplacental infection with neospora hughesi and sarcocystis neurona in broodmares.the aim of the present study was to investigate the likelihood of transplacental transmission of neospora hughesi and sarcocystis neurona in foals, born from seropositive mares. three broodmares with persistent n. hughesi infection gave birth to eight healthy foals over a period of 7 years. these foals were seropositive to n. hughesi prior to colostrum ingestion, with titers ranging between 640 and 20,480, measured by indirect fluorescence antibody test (ifat). of 174 foals born at another farm ...201425438732
comparison of prevalence factors in horses with and without seropositivity to neospora hughesi and/or sarcocystis neurona.equine protozoal myeloencephalitis is a commonly diagnosed neurological disease of horses in north america and is caused by infection with sarcocystis neurona or neospora hughesi. the aim of this study was to compare prevalence factors among horses seropositive or seronegative to n. hughesi and/or s. neurona. a total of 3123 submissions were included in the study, with horses originating from 49 states. thirty-eight animals from 21 states tested seropositive for n. hughesi only, 840 horses from ...201424703324
surveillance for zoonotic and selected pathogens in harbor seals phoca vitulina from central california.the infection status of harbor seals phoca vitulina in central california, usa, was evaluated through broad surveillance for pathogens in stranded and wild-caught animals from 2001 to 2008, with most samples collected in 2007 and 2008. stranded animals from mendocino county to san luis obispo county were sampled at a rehabilitation facility: the marine mammal center (tmmc, n = 175); wild-caught animals were sampled at 2 locations: san francisco bay (sf, n = 78) and tomales bay (tb, n = 97), that ...201425266897
acute onset of encephalomyelitis with atypical lesions associated with dual infection of sarcocystis neurona and toxoplasma gondii in a dog.a two-year-old male, neutered, basset hound-beagle mix with progressive neurological impairment was examined postmortem. grossly, the dog had multiple raised masses on the spinal cord between nerve roots. microscopically, the dog had protozoal myeloencephalitis. toxoplasma gondii and sarcocystis neurona were detected in the cns by immunohistochemistry and polymerase chain reaction (pcr). sarcocysts in formalin-fixed muscle were negative for sarcocystis by pcr. banked serum was negative for t. go ...201425260332
molecular characterisation of sarcocystis rileyi from a common eider (somateria mollissima) in norway.the breast and leg muscles of a common eider (somateria mollissima; anatidae: anseriformes) from northern norway contained numerous grossly visible cigar-shaped sarcocysts measuring about 5 × 1 mm. light microscopic examination of isolated sarcocysts revealed that they were encapsulated by a thin fibrous layer, underneath which there was a thin and fairly smooth cyst wall with no visible protrusions. the cystozoites were straight, spindle-shaped and about 13 μm long. genomic dna was extracted fr ...201425082019
purine salvage in the apicomplexan sarcocystis neurona, and generation of hypoxanthine-xanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase-deficient clones for positive-negative selection of transgenic parasites.sarcocystis neurona is an apicomplexan parasite that causes severe neurological disease in horses and marine mammals. the apicomplexa are all obligate intracellular parasites that lack purine biosynthesis pathways and rely on the host cell for their purine requirements. hypoxanthine-xanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (hxgprt) and adenosine kinase (ak) are key enzymes that function in two complementary purine salvage pathways in apicomplexans. bioinformatic searches of the s. neurona geno ...201424923662
sarcocystis neurona schizonts-associated encephalitis, chorioretinitis, and myositis in a two-month-old dog simulating toxoplasmosis, and presence of mature sarcocysts in muscles.sarcocystis neurona is an unusual species of the genus sarcocystis. opossums (didelphis virginianus, d. albiventris) are the definitive hosts and several other species, including dogs, cats, marine mammals, and horses are intermediate or aberrant hosts. sarcocysts are not known to form in aberrant hosts. sarcocystis neurona causes fatal disease in horses (equine protozoal myeloencephalitis, epm). there are numerous reports of fatal epm-like infections in other species, usually with central nervo ...201424680604
effects of experimental sarcocystis neurona-induced infection on immunity in an equine model.sarcocystis neurona is the most common cause of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (epm), affecting 0.5-1% horses in the united states during their lifetimes. the objective of this study was to evaluate the equine immune responses in an experimentally induced sarcocystis neurona infection model. neurologic parameters were recorded prior to and throughout the 70-day study by blinded investigators. recombinant snsag1 elisa for serum and csf were used to confirm and track disease progression. all e ...201426464923
serological status of mares in parturition and the levels of antibodies (igg) against protozoan family sarcocystidae from their pre colostral foals.protozoa from the family sarcocystidae are agents of reproductive and neurological disorders in horses. the transmission of these protozoa may occur via horizontal or vertical means, and the frequency and potential of the later is not fully elucidated in horses. thus, the aim of study was to correlation levels of antibodies in mares with pre colostral foals seropositive and assess the level and distribution of antibodies against neospora spp., sarcocystis neurona and toxoplasma gondii, in mares ...201424183649
molecular characterization and development of sarcocystis speeri sarcocysts in gamma interferon gene knockout mice.the north american opossum (didelphis virginiana) is the definitive host for at least three named species of sarcocystis: sarcocystis falcatula, sarcocystis neurona and sarcocystis speeri. the south american opossums (didelphis albiventris, didelphis marsupialis and didelphis aurita) are definitive hosts for s. falcatula and s. lindsayi. the sporocysts of these sarcocystis species are similar morphologically. they are also not easily distinguished genetically because of the difficulties of dna e ...201526303093
management of acute renal failure with delayed hypercalcemia secondary to sarcocystis neurona-induced myositis and rhabdomyolysis in a california sea lion (zalophus californianus).a 3-yr-old captive-born california sea lion (zalophus californianus) developed sarcocystis neurona-induced myositis and rhabdomyolysis that led to acute renal failure. the sea lion was successfully managed with fluid therapy, antiprotozoals, antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, antiemetics, gastroprotectants, and diuretics, but developed severe delayed hypercalcemia, a syndrome identified in humans after traumatic or exertion-induced rhabdomyolysis. treatment with calcitonin was added to the manage ...201526352981
daily feeding of diclazuril top dress pellets in foals reduces seroconversion to sarcocystis neurona.thirty-three foals from a farm with a high exposure rate to sarcocystis neurona were assigned to either an untreated or a diclazuril-treated group. treated foals received daily 0.5 mg/kg of diclazuril pellets from 1 to 12 months of age. monthly blood was tested for igg against s. neurona using the indirect fluorescent antibody test. following ingestion of colostral antibodies to s. neurona, there was a steady and continuous decline in seroprevalence to s. neurona until foals from both groups rea ...201526346260
detection of sarcocystis spp. infection in bobcats (lynx rufus).the protozoan sarcocystis neurona is an important cause of severe clinical disease of horses (called equine protozoal myeloencephalitis, epm), marine mammals, companion animals, and several species of wildlife animals in the americas. the virginia opossum (didelphis virginiana) is its definitive host in the usa and other animals act as intermediate or aberrant hosts. samples of tongue and heart from 35 bobcats hunted for fur and food from mississippi state, usa in february, 2014 were used for th ...201526138150
a novel sarcocystis neurona genotype xiii is associated with severe encephalitis in an unexpectedly broad range of marine mammals from the northeastern pacific ocean.sarcocystis neurona is an important cause of protozoal encephalitis among marine mammals in the northeastern pacific ocean. to characterise the genetic type of s. neurona in this region, samples from 227 stranded marine mammals, most with clinical or pathological evidence of protozoal disease, were tested for the presence of coccidian parasites using a nested pcr assay. the frequency of s. neurona infection was 60% (136/227) among pinnipeds and cetaceans, including seven marine mammal species no ...201525997588
a new trivalent snsag surface antigen chimera for efficient detection of antibodies against sarcocystis neurona and diagnosis of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis.enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (elisas) based on the snsag surface antigens of sarcocystis neurona provide reliable detection of infection by the parasite. moreover, accurate serodiagnosis of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (epm) is achieved with the snsag elisas by measuring antibodies in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (csf) to reveal active infection in the central nervous system. two independent elisas based on recombinant (r)snsag2 or a chimeric fusion of snsag3 and snsag4 (rsnsag4/3) ...201525943129
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