Neospora hughesi

Neospora hughesi
Scientific classification
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N. hughesi
Binomial name
Neospora hughesi
Marsh et al.1998 [1]

Neospora hughesi is an obligate protozoan apicomplexan parasite that causes myelitis and equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) in horses, and has only been documented in North America.[1] EPM is a neurological disease from lesions in the spinal cord, brain stem, or brain from parasites such as N. hughesi or Sarcocystis neurona.[2] Signs that a horse may have EPM include ataxia, muscle atrophy, difficulty swallowing, and head tilt.[2] There are antiprotozoal drugs, such as the 28-day course of ponazuril, to treat the disease, as well as anti-inflammatories to alleviate neurologic symptoms [2][3]

  1. ^ a b Marsh, A.E.; Barr, B.C.; Packham, A.E; Conrad, P.A. (1998), "Description of a New Neospora Species (Protozoa: Apicomplexa: Sarcocystidae)", The Journal of Parasitology, 84 (5): 983–991, doi:10.2307/3284632, JSTOR 3284632, PMID 9794642
  2. ^ a b c "EPM: Understanding This Debilitating Disease", American Association of Equine Practitioners, 2021
  3. ^ McCoy, Annette; Firshman, Anna, "Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM)", University of Minnesota