I am curious if anyone here has experience giving Marquis to a horse that does not have EPM, but rather it is being used as a treatment for potential generalized inflammation? Horse in question has some mild similar-to-EPM symptoms but has tested negative for EPM.
Marquis is an anti-protozoal, not an anti-inflammatory. It’s also quite expensive so not sure it would be one I’d reach for without a solid cause.
What exactly are you hoping to treat? When you say he tested negative, was the test a blood draw or spinal tap?
2 Likes
Many folks go right to treatment
for EPM symptoms as the blood test hasn’t showñ to be very accurate.
Marquis is no longer considered to be the gold standard for treatment as it just prevents the protozoa from reproducing but does not kill them.
Join the FB group for EPM Horse Support and
you can learn a lot about the
newer treatments.
1 Like
What test was done, what was the result, and what are his symptoms?
Any other testing?
I’d probably do compounded deccoquinate + levamisole if you suspected EPM anyway. Levamisole has anthelmintic properties, but also anti-inflammatory as well, and can “boost” the immune system.
The combo has been very effective for a lot of horses for whom Marquis didn’t do anything.
2 Likes
My horse was prescribed and just finished 10 days of this exact combo. He was tested for EPM and came back with elevated markers (SAG 1, 5, 6 at 64 and CRP at 48). His symptoms were described as a performance issue by the vet (didn’t want to sit and push from behind).
So far, so good. Will retest in 6 weeks and go from there.
1 Like
What does “test negative for EPM” mean? Like, truly 0, or just a low “probably not a problem” titer?
I have a horse that tested low last spring. He had been kind of strange, and so I treated him with compounded ponazuril (which is very inexpensive) and he improved rather quickly.
Treating a horse that is totally negative for EPM with ponazuril doesn’t make much sense…I don’t think there’s any evidence that is has an anti inflammatory action? But if the titer is low, sure–I’d totally toss some ponazuril at that and see what happens.
There’s a study showing co administering oil increases absorption:
And here’s a good overview article on EPM in general. It mentions a levamisole dose if you’d like to add that as well (it’s otc, you don’t need a script):
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jvim.13834
There’s no actual study in the decoquinate/levamisole combo, so it’s impossible to judge how effective it is vs the more widely recommended treatment options.
