Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) and West Nile virus (WNV) are two diagnoses veterinarians don’t want to give and horse owners dread hearing. To help horse owners in the United States stay up-to-date on the latest information regarding these diseases, Merck Animal Health has developed two new comprehensive websites: www.protazil.com and www.westnileequinevaccines.com.

EPM Resource Center
EPM is a progressive and potentially fatal infection of the central nervous system caused by the single-celled protozoal microorganism Sarcocystis neurona. Because the disease is progressive, early detection and veterinary intervention are critical to the horse’s chance of recovery. Protazil.com offers a centralized location for horse owners to research EPM and learn to recognize the early onset of the disease. The website is designed to provide owners with:

• Up-to-date disease information and research;
• News and events surrounding EPM;
• Management strategies to aid in prevention of EPM; and
• Treatment options to discuss with their veterinarian.

"EPM can cause irreversible damage to the horse’s brain or spinal cord and is more likely to cause permanent damage if the disease is not detected early," said Wendy Vaala, VMD, Dipl. ACVIM, senior equine technical services veterinarian for Merck Animal Health. "Although EPM only affects less than 1% of horses, it is critical that owners know what to do, just in case. Owners can increase their horse’s chance of a full recovery by talking to their veterinarian and educating themselves through websites like Protazil.com."

WNV Information and More
Though less evasive than EPM, WNV infection is still a threat in the United States. According to Merck, Westnileequinevaccines.com provides horse owners with many educational resources on WNV, as well as information on vaccines that aid in helping prevent this disease