AHL LabNote 55-Handling submissions requesting Equine neurological disease testing

Many clients are not familiar with testing for equine neurological disease and may ask for testing that will not provide the answers that they are looking for leading to difficulty in interpretation.

Rabies: may be on the list of rule outs. This may affect handling of fluids and tissues depending on what is submitted. If rabies is suspected (Check box or discussion with the client) please make sure that they are following up with Public Health (human involvement) or OMAFRA (animal involvement only).

Sometimes clients ask for Virus Neutralization testing (VN) (EHV ¼, WNV, EEE, WEE.  This is fine if they are looking for titres and vaccination status (Please note there are no validated guidelines for titre testing in horses) but unsuitable for acute onset testing. The only way to use titres for diagnosis is acute and convalescent titres 3-4 weeks apart submitted together for VN (a four fold rise in titre denotes infection).

EPM – Equine Protozoal Myelitis may also be on the list and practitioners may have their own preferred method of testing.  Our standard test is:

Jim Fairles