U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 close



Research
                Research Home
                            National Programs
                            Research Projects
                            Scientific Manuscripts
                            International Engagement
                            Scientific Software/Models
                            Databases and Datasets
                            Office of Scientific Quality Review
            Media
                News & Features
                            Multimedia
                            Briefing Room
                            Down on the Farm
                            Press Room
                            Science in Your Shopping Cart
                            Scientific Discoveries
                            Tellus
                            Under the Microscope
            About ARS
                About ARS Home
                            Staff Directory
                            Labs and Research Centers (Map)
                            Headquarter Offices
                            Organizational Chart
                            Employee Services (REE Employees Only)
                            Office of Outreach, Diversity, and Equal Opportunity
            Work With Us
                Work With Us Home
                            ARS Vacancies at USAJOBS
                            Careers at ARS Information
                            Scientific Collaborations
                            Extramural Agreements
                            1890 Faculty Research Sabbatical ProgramSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Research Publications at this Location





- ARS National Programs
- Search for a scientific manuscript
- Search for a research project
- ARS Software
- Programs and Projects
- Collaborations
- Subjects of Investigation
- Publications

Title:   Author  item
                                            SAVILLE, WJ - OHIO STATE UNIV,COLUMBUSitem
                                            Dubey, Jitenderitem
                                            OGLESBEE, M - OHIO STATE UNIV, COLUMBUSitem
                                            SOFALY, C - OHIO STATE UNIV, COLUNBUSitem
                                            MARSH, A - OHIO STATE UNIV, COLUMBUSitem
                                            ELITSUR, E - OHIO STATE UNIV, COLUMBUSitem
                                            VIANNA, M - OHIO STATE UNIV, COLUMBUSitem
                                            LINDSAY, D - VA TECH, BLACKSBURGitem
                                            REED, S - OHIO STATE UNIV, COLUMBUS
  Submitted to: Journal of Parasitology
                                    Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 4/16/2004
                                    Publication  Date: 5/24/2004
                                    Citation: Saville, W.A., Dubey, J.P., Oglesbee, M.J., Sofaly, C.D., Marsh, A.E., Elitsur, E., Vianna, M.C., Lindsay, D.S., Reed, S.M. 2004. Experimental infection of ponies with sarcocystis fayeri and differentiation from Sarcocystis neurona infections in horses. Journal of Parasitology. 90:1487-1491.Interpretive Summary: Sarcocystis neurona is a single-celled parasite that causes a fatal neurologic disease in horses, equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM).  It is difficult to diagnose EPM in live animals.  Scientists at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center and the Ohio State University report that infection with a related parasite,  Sarcocystis fayeri, can interfere with diagnosis using an indirect fluorescent antibody test.  The results will be of interest to biologists, parasitologists and veterinarians.
                                Technical Abstract: Sarcocystis neurona and S Sarcocystis neurona arcocystis fayeri infections are common in horses in Americas. Their antemortem diagnosis is important because the  former causes a neurological disorder in horses whereas the latter is considered nonpathogenic. There is a concern that equine antibodies to S. fayeri might react with S. neurona antigens in diagnostic tests.  In the present study 4 ponies without demonstrable serum antibodies to S. neurona by Western immunoblot were used.  Three ponies were fed 105 to 107 sporocysts of S. fayeri obtained from dogs that were fed naturally-infected horse muscles.  All ponies remained asymptomatic until the termination of the experiment day 79 post inoculation (PI).  All serum samples collected were negative for antibodies to S. neurona using the Western blot at the initial screening, just prior to inoculation with S. fayeri (day 2) and weekly until day 79 PI.  Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from each pony were negative for S. neurona antibodies. Using the S. neurona agglutination test, antibodies to S. neurona were not detected in 1:25 dilution of sera from any samples except pony no. 4 on day 28; this pony had received 107 sporocysts.  Seven serum samples using indirect fluorescent antibody tests (IFAT) were positive for S. neurona antibodies from 1:25 to 1:400 dilutions. Sarcocystis fayeri sarcocysts were found in striated muscles of all inoculated ponies with heaviest infections in tongue.  All sarcocysts examined histologically appeared to contain only metrocytes.  Ultrastructurally, S. fayeri sarcocysts could be differentiated from S. neurona sarcocysts by the microtubules (mt) in villar protrusions on sarcocyst walls; in S. fayeri the mt extended from the villar tips to the pellicle of zoites whereas in S. neurona the mt were restricted to the middle of the cyst wall.  Results indicate that horses with S. fayeri infections may be misdiagnosed as S. neurona infections using the IFAT and further research is needed on the serologic diagnosis of S. neurona infections.


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov