Horses at Risk
EPM is a serious and often fatal neurological disease of horses. Almost every part of the country has reported cases of EPM. However, the incidence of disease is much lower in the western United States especially in regions with small opossum populations. However, due to the transport of horses and feedstuffs from one part of the country to another, almost all horses are at risk.
Not all horses who are exposed to the protozoan Sarcocystis neurona will develop the disease and show clinical signs of EPM. Some horses seem to mount an effective immune response and are able to combat the disease before it gains a foothold. Other horses, especially those under stress, can succumb rapidly to the debilitating effects of EPM. Still others may harbor the organisms for months or years and then slowly or suddenly develop symptoms.
Learn More: Diagnosis