Análise epidemiológica da Mieloencefalite Protozoária Equina – Revisão de literatura

Abstract

Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis, also popularly known as EPM, is an infectious disease that affects the Central Nervous System of equines. It is caused by the parasite Sarcocystis neurona and Neospora spp. Diagnosis is performed using Indirect Immunofluorescence Reaction and Western Blot tests for S. neurona and ELISA and Western Blot for Neospora spp. The first case appeared in Brazil in 1986 and is considered an emerging disease. Thus, the objective of this literature review was to synthesize the scientific evidence about the disease with a special focus on epidemiology and seroprevalence in Brazil and in the North region. The electronic digital libraries Google Scholar, Scielo, ScienceDirect and “Portal de Periódicos” CAPES were used. The search for articles was based on the keywords equine, equine protozoal myeloencephalitis, sarcocystis neurona, neospora spp., seroprevalences and brazil. The seroprevalence rates found in the northern states were: 40.15% for S. neurona and 13.85% for Neospora spp. in the state of Roraima, 84.4% for S. neurona and 1.6% for Neospora spp. in the state of Rondônia and 5.6% for Neospora spp. In the state of Pará, generating an arithmetic mean of seroprevalence of 54.9% for S. neurona and 8.725% for Neospora spp. in the North region. The main risk factors found by the authors were: direct contact between horses and wild fauna; contact with property dogs; no animal housing; animal function; hot and humid climate; arboreal vegetation; population density of definitive hosts and lack of veterinary assistance in the region.