Contagious Equine Metritis |
|
 |
|
On December 15, 2008, the State of Kentucky confirmed that a quarter horse stallion on a central Kentucky premises was positive for Taylorella equigenitalis, the bacterium that causes contagious equine metritis (CEM). A total of 21 stallions, including one that is now a gelding, have now been confirmed as positive for T. equigenitalis by USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL). Along with the positive stallions, five mares have been found positive for T. equigenitalis by the NVSL. None of the positive horses have yet been identified as the source of the outbreak; the epidemiologic investigation continues to pursue all available information relative to determining the origin of this outbreak, but no conclusions can yet be drawn.
In addition to the 21 positive stallions and 5 positive mares, another 960 horses have been exposed to T. equigenitalis. The 986 horses have been found in 48 States. A total of 272 exposed or positive stallions have been found in 31 States, and 714 exposed or positive mares have been found in 46 States. Hawaii and Rhode Island are the only States in which an exposed or positive horse has not been found.
The 21 positive stallions were found in 7 States: 1 in Georgia, 3 in Illinois, 3 in Indiana, 1 in Iowa, 4 in Kentucky, 1 in Texas, and 8 in Wisconsin. The five positive mares were found in three States: two in California, two in Illinois, and one in Wisconsin. All positive horses, and all exposed horses that have not yet completed testing and treatment protocols, are currently under quarantine or hold order.
Of the 272 stallions, 178 (65 percent) have now completed their entire testing and treatment protocol and have been determined to be negative for T. equigenitalis. Of the 178 that are now negative, 163 were exposed stallions and 15 were stallions that had previously tested positive. Those 15 stallions, including 4 from Kentucky, 3 from Illinois, 3 from Indiana, 3 from Wisconsin, 1 from Georgia, and 1 from Texas, are now free of T. equigenitalis after being treated and re-tested. Another 48 exposed stallions are negative on their initial sampling cultures but have additional testing requirements to complete before being declared free of the bacterium. Of the 714 mares, a total of 645 (90 percent) have completed testing and treatment and are negative for T. equigenitalis; that total includes four (4) formerly positive mares, two in California and two in Illinois, that have completed their treatment and testing protocols and are now negative.
Overall, 823 (83 percent) of the 986 horses involved are now known to be free of T. equigenitalis. Three of the eight States that have had a positive horse, Georgia, Indiana, and Kentucky, have completed testing and treatment of all known positive and exposed horses and are considered free of CEM at this time.
The investigation of this outbreak has determined that all four of the positive Kentucky stallions were on the central Kentucky premises during the 2008 breeding season. The Texas and Indiana stallions also spent time on the Kentucky premises during 2008. The positive Wisconsin stallions were not in Kentucky, but four of them were co-located during at least one breeding season in Wisconsin with a positive stallion that was on the Kentucky premises in 2008. The fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth Wisconsin stallions all spent time at the same breeding facility used by the fourth positive Wisconsin stallion, by the three positive Illinois stallions, and by the Iowa stallion. The Iowa stallion has since been gelded. The positive Georgia stallion was co-located with three positive Wisconsin stallions in 2008.
The positive Wisconsin mare was bred by the second positive stallion in Wisconsin. Each of the positive mares in Illinois and in California was bred by artificial insemination (AI) in 2008 using semen from a positive stallion. Both California mares were exposed by AI to the first positive stallion in Wisconsin and the first Illinois mare was exposed to a positive stallion now in Indiana. The second positive mare in Illinois was exposed by AI in 2008 to the second positive Illinois stallion.
An exposed horse is one that was bred to a positive horse, either naturally or via artificial insemination, or one that is otherwise epidemiologically linked to a positive horse, as determined by State and Federal animal health officials.
What is CEM?
Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM) is a sexually transmitted disease among horses caused by a bacteria Taylorella equigenitalis. Clinical signs may include a mucopurulent vaginal discharge in up to 40% of affected mares, abortion and infertility. Stallions typically show no clinical signs. Stallions and mares can become chronic carriers of CEM and be sources of infection for future outbreaks. The transmission rate is high and naturally occurs by mating, but contaminated instruments and equipment may be an indirect source of infecting mares and stallions. The bacteria can also be spread via semen collected for artificial insemination.
What happens to CEM positive horses?
CEM can be treated with disinfectants and antibiotics. CEM-positive mares, and mares from CEM-positive countries, are required to go through a treatment protocol and remain in quarantine for no less than 21 days. Stallions that have CEM or come from a CEM-positive country are required to remain quarantined until a treatment protocol is completed and they test negative for the disease.
In the News |
|
|
|
Mar 6, 2009 Fourth Wisconsin Stallion Tests Positive for CEM
Feb 24, 2009 California Mare Tests Positive for Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM)
Jan 28, 2009 Maine Horses Potentially Exposed to Contagious Disease
Jan 22, 2009
Commissioner Alerts Horse Owners of Contagious Horse Disease
Nine New York Horses Potentially Exposed to Contagious Equine Metritis
Jan 15, 2009 CEM-Infected Stallion Confirmed in Texas
Jan 13, 2009 Stallion in Wisconsin Tests Positive for CEM; Animal Health Authorities Checking for Other Exposed Mares, Stallions
Jan 7, 2009 Wisconsin Horses Quarantined, Will Be Tested After Exposure to Reproductive Disease
Jan 7, 2009 Colorado Horse Being Tested for Equine Disease
Jan 7, 2009 Montana Mare Quarantined for CEM
Jan 5, 2009 Texas Among 27 States Testing Horses for Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM)
Jan 5, 2009 Horse Disease Could Affect Oklahoma Breeders
Dec 31, 2008 Three Indiana Horses Test Positive for Contagious Equine Metritis
Dec 30, 2008 North Dakota Mare Exposed to Disease
Dec 23, 2008 State Veterinarian Quarantines Virginia Farms Due to Contagious Equine Metritis
Publications |
|
|
|
Contagious Equine Metritis
Contagious Equine Metritis: Q&A's
Related Links |
|
|
|
Kentucky Department of Agriculture
Last Modified: August 10, 2009