Recipient Organization
OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY - VET MED
1900 COFFEY ROAD, 127L VMAB
COLUMBUS,OH 43210
Performing Department
PREVENTIVE MEDICINE
Non Technical Summary
Neurologic disease, such as Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis, is caused by exposure to Sarcocystis neurona. This project will aid in finding a vaccination for healthy horses to aid in prevention of neurologic disease (EPM) caused by subsequent exposure to the protozoan Sarcocystis neurona.
Animal Health Component
100%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
100%
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
To evaluate the efficacy of FDAH's Sarcocystis neurona Vaccine, Killed Protozoa.
Project Methods
Horses will be screened by Western blots for antibody to S. neurona. Prior to vaccination, all horses will receive physical and neurologic exams. At least 35 seronegative and clinically normal horses will be selected for vaccination. Horses vaccinated with the S. neurona vaccine will be transported to FDAH and examined physically and neurologically. 30 of those horses will be selected for the challenge phase of the study. Two groups of 15 horses. Group 1 will be vaccinated intramuscularly with two doses of the test vaccine (1 mL/dose), three to four weeks apart. Group 2 will receive a placebo. Serum samples will be collected at 0 DPV1, 14 DPV2, 0 DPV2, 21 DPV2, and 0 DPC for the determination of antibody titer to S. neurona by IFA. Each horse will be sedated with Sedazine and Torbogesic for CSF collection. CSF samples will be taken by standing lumbrosacral puncture method of collection prior to vaccination. S. neurona sporocysts will be obtained from laboratory raised
opossums fed tissues of raccoons that were fed sporocysts. Following challenge, the horses will be examined weekly by the blinded observer for neurologic deficits.