Tag Archives: equine diseases

Tip of the Week – A Look at the Effects of EPM on the Horse’s Nervous System

EPM is an equine protozoal disease caused by a one-celled organism which affects the nervous system. Lesions on the spinal cord cause degeneration of nerves resulting in Ataxia (lack of coordination in movement), muscle atrophy and weight loss. The symptom first noticed by most owners is “wobbling” in the hind end. Under saddle, it seems like you are riding two different horses, as the hind end is out of sync with the front.

Opossums, raccoons, armadillos and skunks have been shown to be intermediate hosts of these protozoa. Feces from these animals gets into feed sources (usually forages like hay) and is ingested. A horse cannot contract the disease from another infected horse.

A presumptive diagnosis of EPM can be made by evaluating the horse’s health history combined with a failed neurologic exam performed by a veterinarian. A conclusive diagnosis usually includes blood testing and a spinal tap which are expensive, invasive and often include false positive and false negative results.

Drug therapy usually includes treatment with one of two antiprotozoal drugs, Marquis or Navigator. Both are 28 day protocols and only available through veterinary prescription. It is common to see relapses with these drugs; so many veterinarians recommend two consecutive treatments.

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Arrest Announced for Failure to Report Horse Disease

September 1, 2010 – TALLAHASSEE — Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson today announced the arrest of an Indian River County woman who allegedly tried to conceal from authorities her two horses that were infected with Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA).

Arrested by Bronson’s Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement (OALE) was Regina Chesser, 56, of Fellsmere.  She was charged with failure to report a dangerous transmissible disease, which is a second-degree felony.

Authorities allege that Chesser brought her horse “Dolly” to a Vero Beach veterinary clinic to be tested for EIA.  When the test results were positive for EIA, authorities with the department’s Division of Animal Industry attempted to contact Chesser only to find that she had given the alias Cheryl Hearndon with a false address and phone number to the clinic and used a an email address registered to a friend.  The false information was given because Chesser believed “Dolly” was infected with the EIA virus.

The case was turned over to Bronson’s Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement to initiate a criminal investigation of the matter.  After an extensive search, Chesser’s true identity and location were discovered.  Authorities then learned that there were two horses on Chesser’s property and subsequent testing showed that both of the horses were carriers of EIA.

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