Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis: How Predictable is the Diagnosis with Acupressure?

摘要

Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) is a neurological disturbance produced by CNS infection caused by Sarcocystis neurona, leading to a compromised athletic performance. Animals will in the late stages of the disease will show ataxia of hind limbs, not being able to walk straight. In severe cases, the horses may fall down when submitted to walking or trotting. The diagnosis is performed by clinical signs or detection of Sarcocystis neurona antibody in the cerebrospinal fluid. The aim of the study was to investigate the possibility to perform an early EPM diagnosis using finger pressure in acupoints. Five female Thoroughbred polo horses and one Mangalarga Marchador (Brazilian breed) stallion used for gaiety demonstration were undergoing competition and the trainers were complaining about poor performance due to incoordination when they underwent maximal exercise intensity. There were no clinical signs of locomotor system problems. The cases selected in this study did not show the classical signs of EPM and were in the early stage of the disease. The acupoints K27, immunity point, GB25, GB32 and Livl3 were very painful to palpation. 5. Neurona antiserum was detected in the CSF of four out of six of these animals. The ability of the acupuncturetest to detect EPM compared to the Western Blot method was 66%. Although the number of the animals was small and the results might have been masked by the fact that in one animal with negative S. Neurona antiserum in the CSF, CSF sampling was collected after the beginning of treatment and in the other animal the disease might be in the early stage and 5. Neurona had not invaded the CSF yet. As all animals responded to treatment, it maybe assumed that acupressure may be a good method to predict EPM diagnosis in the early stages of the disease.