Equine protozoal myelitis in Panamanian horses and isolation of Sarcocystis neurona

J Parasitol. 1992 Oct;78(5):909-12.

Abstract

Schizonts of Sarcocystis neurona were identified microscopically in hematoxylin-eosin-stained spinal cord sections from 2 native Panamanian horses that exhibited clinical signs of equine protozoal myelitis (EPM). Spinal cord homogenate from a third Panamanian horse with EPM was inoculated onto monolayers of cultured bovine monocytes (M617). Intracytoplasmic schizonts containing merozoites arranged in rosette forms surrounding a central residual body first were observed 13 wk postinoculation. Parasites divided by endopolygeny and lacked rhoptries. Schizonts from each horse reacted with Sarcocystis cruzi antiserum in an immunohistochemical test.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Female
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horse Diseases / parasitology*
  • Horse Diseases / pathology
  • Horses
  • Immunoenzyme Techniques
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Male
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Myelitis / epidemiology
  • Myelitis / parasitology
  • Myelitis / pathology
  • Myelitis / veterinary*
  • Panama / epidemiology
  • Sarcocystis / isolation & purification*
  • Sarcocystis / ultrastructure
  • Sarcocystosis / epidemiology
  • Sarcocystosis / parasitology
  • Sarcocystosis / pathology
  • Sarcocystosis / veterinary*
  • Spinal Cord / parasitology
  • Spinal Cord / pathology