Pathogenes Inc.

If you have a horse with a diagnosis of EPM and would like to participate in generating knowledge, add to our database, and help find effective diagnostics, treatments, and preventive therapies we would like to hear from you.  We would like to hear about your EPM experience.  Data gathered in the survey will be posted, you nor your horse will not be individually identified.

Thank-you for participating in our survey!  We recognize our survey is biased!  Only those people visiting our site will have the opportunity to respond.  We recognize this bias but hope the information can be useful, if only for future discussion.  We will post your feedback and use the information so that others with horses suffering from EPM can benefit. 

Thanks!  Click the appropriate links below to view past survey results.

The significance of EPM titers from over 4500 serum samples from horses submitted for EPM testing are available.  These samples represent horses across the country.  In Florida we found titers were higher in some months (seasonal). 

Treating EPM can be costly, confusing, and disappointing.  Our treatment survey may benefit those of you treating your horse.  Although relapse is reported in 30% of horses, we found that horses with relapsing disease occured in about 16.5% of the horses that are diagnosed by clinical exam and ELISA. 

We have been unable to identify a group of horses that are more susceptible to EPM.  Sarcocystis neurona can effect changes in the horse immune system in clinical cases of EPM.  Researchers at Virginia Tech identified chemicals (mitogens) that detect a suppressed immune response in S. neurona infected horses.  It was determined that immune suppression was present as soon as 3 days after infection.

Only horses with a good immune response to S. neurona were less susceptble, and these horses required specific immune stimulation.  Our lymphocyte proliferation assay is designed to examine the individual response to infection, to see our results so far, click here. 

EPM Facts or Myths

There is a tremendous body of knowledge about EPM and the etiologic agent, Sarcocystis neurona, but sifting out the facts from the myths can be difficult.  In order to stimulate discussion, send us your fact or myth querry.  We will review the literature and let you decide.

Write your question in the box below.  Check back here for the discussion!

Are some horses predisposed to get EPM ?

Is S. neurona neurotropic in the horse?

Is S. neurona infection prevalent and disease rare?

How many strains of S. neurona infect horses?

Is it difficult to diagnose EPM in the horse?