Protozoal encephalomyelitis in horses: 82 cases (1972-1986)
Boy, M.G.; Galligan, D.T.; Divers, T.J.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 196(4): 632-634
1990
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-1488 PMID: 2303389 Document Number: 366045
Medical records of 82 horses with clinical signs of neurologic disease and histologic lesions suggestive of protozoal encephalomyelitis were reviewed. The presence of a protozoan parasite in the CNS was not influenced by prior treatment of the horse with corticosteroids. Prior treatment of horses with trimethoprim-sulfonamide alone or in combination with pyrimethamine resulted in a decreased number of horses in which a protozoan parasite was detected in the CNS at necropsy. The mean age of affected horses was 3.62 +/- 2.78 years, with male and Standardbred horses being overrepresented, compared with that of the hospital population of horses that were studied at the same time.