{"product_id":"equine-protozoa-myeloencephalitis-epm-qpcr","title":"Equine Protozoa Myeloencephalitis qPCR","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #c739d2;\"\u003e \u003cstrong\u003ePathogen test \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\" style=\"display: inline !important;\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eThe\u003cstrong\u003e qPCR \u003c\/strong\u003etest detects the\u003cstrong\u003e \u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003egenome (DNA) \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eof\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eSarcocystis neurona\u003c\/i\u003e, the pathogen responsible for Equine Protozoa Myeloencephalitis.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #c739d2;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSample\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e2- 5 mL - liquor (CSF)  - in EDTA tube.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003efeces - sterile container \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003epostmortem tissues. \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #c739d2;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTurnaround time\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e2 to 5 working days\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #e8b80d;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEquine Protozoa Myeloencephalitis?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eEPM is progressive, degenerative neurological disease of the central nervous system. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eThe disease is one of the most commonly diagnosed neurological disorders of horses in the United States. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eThe protozoa does not occur in horse manure, so EPM is not spread between horses. So the horses is considered a dead end host.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eClinical signs\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eSince EPM is a disease of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and it can affect multiple locations within the brain and spinal cord, the signs and severity of this disease can vary dramatically. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eT\u003c\/span\u003ehough EPM can affect both the brain and spinal cord, it is more common for the signs of disease to be associated with damage to the spinal cord, but we can and do see insult to the brain. \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eWe typically refer to the 3 “A”s of this disease: Asymmetry, Ataxia and Atrophy. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAsymmetry \u003c\/strong\u003eis a term we use to describe a symptom that is worse on one side of the body than on the opposite side. In other words, with EPM, the signs are generally worse on the left side than on the right or visa versa. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAtaxia\u003c\/strong\u003e is a term we use to describe incoordination or the inability of the horse to know exactly where its legs are, resulting in inability to move its legs and trunk normally.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAtrophy \u003c\/strong\u003edescribes a condition where the muscles shrink from their normal size. With EPM, this results from damage to the nerves that normally control or “innervate” these muscles. Muscle atrophy is not seen in all cases of EPM, so it is not as consistent a sign of disease as is the asymmetrical ataxia. \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eTransmission\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eLife Cycle of \u003cem\u003eSarcocystis neurona \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eS. neurona has a complex, two-host life cycle. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe opossum has been identified as a definitive host of S. neurona. The opossum ingests sarcocysts in muscle tissues of scavenged carcasses of intermediate hosts. The parasite undergoes a form of sexual reproduction within the opossum which produces the sporocyst\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSporocysts are shed in the feces of the opossum. Sporocysts can survive in the environment for several months.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe horse is an aberrant, intermediate host.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe horse is exposed by ingesting feed or water contaminated with opossum feces that contain sporocysts.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe parasite undergoes a form of asexual reproduction in the horse and eventually gains access to the brain and spinal cord \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003ePrevention\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eHorse owners can take advantage of some basic husbandry practices and good common sense to help reduce the risk factors that can contribute to disease incidence. One thing that all of us can do is to keep our feed storage areas neat and clean. Untidy areas with spilled feed invites unwanted guests such as opossums. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKeep your feed in sealed or closed containers.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCover your hay storage area if possible.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKeep rodents under control on your property.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDiscourage visits by opossums.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCheck with local authorities with respect to trapping and relocating opossums or eliminating them.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProperly dispose of any animal carcasses that you may see on or near your property.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eClean your equine water sources on a regular basis.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDo not feed on the ground.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhen transporting horses, make them as comfortable as possible. Transportation stress can be a contributing factor for EPM.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Equigerminal","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":29397160394796,"sku":"","price":55.35,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2726\/7968\/products\/EPM.png?v=1571096648","url":"https:\/\/www.equigerminal.org\/pl\/products\/equine-protozoa-myeloencephalitis-epm-qpcr","provider":"Equigerminal","version":"1.0","type":"link"}