Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM) in Horses - Mad Barn Vet Talk

Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM) is one of the most important neurological diseases of horses in North America. It’s caused by infection of the central nervous system by protozoal pathogen Sarcocystis neurona, and to a lesser extent, Neospora hughesi. Horses with EPM can present with a variety of clinical signs, which can make identifying cases difficult. Some of the most common clinical signs include incoordination, weakness, and asymmetrical muscle atrophy (uneven muscle loss). While many horses are exposed to one or both of the EPM pathogens, only a fraction of horses will progress to clinical disease. It is theorized that factors like stress, concurrent illness, or age at the time of exposure influence whether or not horses will develop EPM. Join Dr. Fran Rowe, one of Mad Barn’s Veterinary Nutritionists, in learning more about EPM in horses! Dr. Rowe will take a deeper dive into the lifecycle of these pathogens, why diagnosis is challenging, and prevention strategies to reduce the incidence of exposure. Interested in learning more about EPM in horses? We have a blog article online: 👉 https://madbarn.com/equine-protozoal-... Want to evaluate your horse's diet? Follow this link to get connected with an equine nutritionist or explore our horse nutrition calculator: 👉 https://madbarn.com/analyze-diet/?mod... Have ideas for topics to cover or questions about your horse's health? We would love to hear from you! Please send any questions or comments to [email protected] ------------------------------ Mad Barn Academy is dedicated to supporting horse owners, handlers and practitioners through research, training, and education. Visit us to learn more at https://madbarn.com You can also find Mad Barn at: Instagram @madbarnequine Facebook @madbarnequine TikTok @madbarnequine YouTube @madbarn X (Twitter) @madbarnequine