EPM?

SonnyWimps · EPM?

Anyone experienced with this disease caused by a parasite?
We (me and my barn owner) suspect that one of the horses that is a boarder at the barn with me has EPM cause he's overly clumbsy, trips alot, has a slight head tilt (not a huge one), no muscles at all, and seems to be reallllllly weak in his hindquarters.

I know it's treatable, but haven't read anywhere that it's curable.

We believe the girl is going to have her horse tested for this (we hope at least), but was just curious about it.

learningthedance

I have never heard it referred to as a "parasite" issue. It's a virus (correction...or so I thought), and Opossums are the known carriers. Well, after the infected bird it consumes passes the virus along, and unfortunately, it's on the rise. We have a large population around here, and you have to keep an eye on your hay and pastures. They will leave droppings, make their nests, and look for shelter in the cooler months in and around your barn. A horse can't transmit it to another horse from my understanding.

Scary stuff. Good luck and fingers are crossed.

SonnyWimps

An article that I read called it a "parasite"...and that it can be treated with antibiotics

Leah

It IS a parasite issue

http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=5529

(edited to add-Mike defined it more correctly as a protozoa.)

karmikacres

It is a protozoa and has a very specific treatment regimen. I believe Marquis is the only product currently on the market, as I have heard Navigator is no longer available.

Most horses will test positive for EPM if using the blood test. A spinal tap is more accurate. (I did just hear the spinal may not even be that accurate anymore).

We have a mare that we treated twice for EPM, only to find she did not have it via spinal tap results. Long story.... Proper nutrition and hoof care have her sound again.

There are lots of other issues that may have similar symptoms. Your mileage may vary...

Mike

Leah

If I recall the issue with the spinal tap is if blood gets mixed in? If a vein is somehow 'nicked' or something like that (?) then it can trigger a false positive...because as Mike said many horse will test positive to a blood test.

And to my knowledge as well, only Marquis is prescribed treatment.

I don't know if it is cured or only goes into some kind of remission-BUT there are many horses that are treated and go on to have very healthy productive lives.

It is my understanding that it is not the death sentence that is once was.

Don't mess around-get a vet involved. MANY different things can look like EPM which are in fact not.

SonnyWimps

well sadly he's not my horse so we can't "make" her get a vet out to see him...we told her parent so hopefully they'll have it done.

His symptoms are a slight head tilt, uncoordinated, no muscles, weak hind end.
No lameness from what I've seen of him.

What other diseases have those symptoms?

oldmac_donald

Wobbles (spinal ataxia) will do it.

Leah

Again from what I have read-the symptoms depend on where the protozoa attaches.

Different places of attachment can present with different symptoms.

Years ago EVERYTHING that blinked wrong was EPSM...the fear seems to have died down-I am sure it became less panicky when the Marquis was released.

How old is the horse? It is my understanding that wobbler's is more common in young large horses. I guess it can certainly be diagnosed in older horses as well?

Then there are other neuro diseases:

http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/ai/main/eee.shtml

There is also WNV and EHV-1 (highly contagious).

And plenty more that I have not listed...

Because it COULD be something very contagious here's hoping the owners do the responsible thing.

SonnyWimps

The horse is an approx 3 year old horse. He isn't that tall, If I were to estimate his height I'd say maybe 14.3. My 15.3 horse is way taller than him.

Well the owner has two horses and she's had them for a while now (not too long but enough to where if it was contagious that I would think we'd see signs on her other horse). But I'll mention it to my barn owner...I know if she feels it's something contagious then she'll definitely say the owner HAS to get it checked into

Leah

Keep in mind the horse have just contracted a disease-so it is just now contagious when it was not before.

Some of these are airborne or transmitted by mosquitoes.

SonnyWimps

Well the owner said he's been doing this for a while...since January

Newfman

As far as those other "Virus" posibilities go, I think the horse would have presented as being febrile by now.

" Arboviruses are arthropod-borne viruses; several arboviruses endemic to the United States can cause morbidity and mortality in horses. These include eastern and western equine encephalomyelitis (EEE and WEE) viruses as well as West Nile (WN) virus." In otherwords, these diseases are transmitted by Mosquitos.

Spinal ataxia I do not believe would account for the head tilt. But an inner ear infection or other inner ear problem, or an eye (corneal injury) would.

EPSM (sometimes called Monday morning disease) is Equine Polysachyride Storage Myopathy.

EPM : Equine Protazoal Myelitis

The Problem with EPM is there is NOT a difinitive diagnosis available. I am NOT an EPM expert so I did some checking with the Veterinary experts:

The blood test is not definitive, but gives you 'levels' of positives. I.e. weak, mod, pos, strong pos. You get the idea. CSF testing (spinal taps) are quite susceptible to false positives due to contamination by only a few red blood cells, invisible to the naked eye. Considering risk-v-reward, there is no significant benefit to performing a spinal tap for a diagnosis of this disease, but, when determined that a tap is needed for a diagnostic process, the sample should then be tested for EPM at that time. When specifically looking for EPM, as much info as can be gathered, can be gathered in the safer, blood test.

Diagnosing EPM is more about ruling out everything else, including a combination of problems.

By the way, Idexx pulled Navigator off the market in February 09. Said the manufacturer did not continue a new contract. Other manufacturers declined because their wasn't enough demand to make it cost effective. So, Marquis ( along with Vit. E) seems to be it for treatment at this time.

There are some new tests being worked on but that doesn't help right now.

SonnyWimps

she's getting the EPM test done next Thursday and then we'll find out what it is. I sent her the stuff about the other things along with my barn owner. I'm sure my barn owner hasn't looked it over yet...they just lost a horse (he had to be put down...broke his leg) and they are all very upset (as am I) about the whole thing.