Abstract

CALDERON, Alfonso; RODRIGUEZ, Virginia; HENAO, Ana Gabriela  and  AGUAS, Lizette Johana. SEROPREVALENCE OF Sarcocystis neurona IN HORSES IN MONTERÍA (CÓRDOBA, COLOMBIA). rev.udcaactual.divulg.cient. [online]. 2014, vol.17, n.2, pp.453-459. ISSN 0123-4226.

Sarcocystis neurona is the most common protozoa associated with equine protozoa myeloencephalitis (EPM), affecting the central nervous system producing ataxia, muscle atrophy, facial paralysis, claudication among other signs; its diagnosis is difficult and it has to be taken into account when clinical symptoms with neurological symptoms are presented. In Colombia a related case to EPM has been reported and in the whole territory there have been found opossums, foxes but their epidemiological role is unknown. The objective of this research was to determine the seroprevalence of S. neurona through sarcocystina toxin detection in horses in Monteria, Cordoba. 73 horses of different hatcheries, horse associations and farms of Monteria, were sampled. Using Elisa a seroprevalence of antibodies against S. neurona of 65.7% was detected and a 4.1% was considered suspicious. The presence of high titers of antibodies in horses allow to suggest the evidence of the circulation of S. neurona in the horses and it becomes necessary to carry out more studies for better understanding the epidemiology of the etiologic agent in the colombian Caribbean.

Keywords : Encephalomyelitis; enzyme linked inmunosorbent assay; protozoan infections.

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