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Effect of intermittent oral administration of ponazuril on experimental Sarcocystis neurona infection of horses.
- Source :
-
American journal of veterinary research [Am J Vet Res] 2008 Mar; Vol. 69 (3), pp. 396-402. - Publication Year :
- 2008
-
Abstract
- Objective: To evaluate the effect of intermittent oral administration of ponazuril on immunoconversion against Sarcocystis neurona in horses inoculated intragastrically with S neurona sporocysts.<br />Animals: 20 healthy horses that were seronegative for S neurona-specific IgG.<br />Procedures: 5 control horses were neither inoculated with sporocysts nor treated. Other horses (5 horses/group) each received 612,500 S neurona sporocysts via nasogastric tube (day 0) and were not treated or were administered ponazuril (20 mg/kg, PO) every 7 days (beginning on day 5) or every 14 days (beginning on day 12) for 12 weeks. Blood and CSF samples were collected on day - 1 and then every 14 days after challenge for western blot assessment of immunoconversion. Clinical signs of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) were monitored, and tissues were examined histologically after euthanasia.<br />Results: Sera from all challenged horses yielded positive western blot results within 56 days. Immunoconversion in CSF was detected in only 2 of 5 horses that were treated weekly; all other challenged horses immunoconverted within 84 days. Weekly administration of ponazuril significantly reduced the antibody response against the S neurona 17-kd antigen in CSF. Neurologic signs consistent with EPM did not develop in any group; likewise, histologic examination of CNS tissue did not reveal protozoa or consistent degenerative or inflammatory changes.<br />Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Administration of ponazuril every 7 days, but not every 14 days, significantly decreased intrathecal anti-S neurona antibody responses in horses inoculated with S neurona sporocysts. Protocols involving intermittent administration of ponazuril may have application in prevention of EPM.
- Subjects :
- Administration, Oral
Animals
Antibodies, Protozoan blood
Antibodies, Protozoan cerebrospinal fluid
Blotting, Western veterinary
Brain parasitology
Encephalomyelitis immunology
Encephalomyelitis parasitology
Encephalomyelitis prevention & control
Female
Histocytochemistry veterinary
Horse Diseases cerebrospinal fluid
Horse Diseases immunology
Horses
Male
Sarcocystosis immunology
Sarcocystosis parasitology
Sarcocystosis prevention & control
Coccidiostats administration & dosage
Encephalomyelitis veterinary
Horse Diseases parasitology
Horse Diseases prevention & control
Sarcocystis immunology
Sarcocystosis veterinary
Triazines administration & dosage
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0002-9645
- Volume :
- 69
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- American journal of veterinary research
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 18312139
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.69.3.396