Sarcocystis neurona are parasitic protozoa responsible for the neurologic disease that can be fatal in wild and domestic animals, Equine Protozoal Myeloncephalitis (EPM). Recognized by its asymmetrical progressive and acute stages of ataxia of the limbs, loss of coordination, muscle atropy and declined response to sensory stimuli from the resulting spinal cord and brain damage. S. neurona is often the cause of EPM and similar signs in other animals that become infected by ingesting the sporocysts shed by the North America opossum (Didelphis virginiana) or related species. Unlike the other members of the apicomplexans, there is limited information about the composition of S. neurona antigens and life cycle. Developing diagnostic tools permit greater understanding of the exceptional disease. Collections of research data have cataloged information, to be summarized in this paper include the findings of tested sensitivity to S. neuron antibodies for serologic diagnostic assays; Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), Immunofluorescent staining Polymerase Chain Reactions (PCR), and Phylogenetic analysis. The research surrounding S. neurona include studies that analyze the pathology of this organism, to catalog the characteristics of this individual species, for the treatment of the disease and control of the pathogen. The purpose of this research paper is to inform readers about the nature of the disease-causing agent, Sarcocystis neurona.
Prevalence of Agglutinating Antibodies to Sarcocystis neurona in Skunks (Mephitis mephitis), Raccoons (Procyon lotor), and Opossums (Didelphis virginiana) from Connecticut
