According to a report by the Veterinary Health Science Department at Oklahoma State University, Contagious Equine Metritis or CEM which was once thought to have been eliminated in the US is causing concerns in the horse industry. According to reports, more than 370 horses in 42 states are under federal quarantine, and the fear is that the number of new cases may continue to climb. If this happens, the horse industry would suffer great economic losses.
CEM - A federally reportable horse disease
Contagious Equine Metritis or CEM which was once thought to have been eliminated in the US is causing concerns in the horse industry.
Already, Canada has placed restrictions on the importation of equines, equine semen, and equine embryos originating from specific areas and regions of the United States.
CEM affects only equids (horses, donkeys, etc.) and is not transmittable to humans or other farm animals. It is caused by the bacterium Taylorella equigenitalis. It is considered a venereal disease. The most likely route of spread in this current outbreak was the use of contaminated breeding equipment for artificial insemination and/or hands which were contaminated with the organism
Contagious Equine Metritis is a serious disease because it is highly contagious. It is difficult to detect and, therefore, to control. The bacteria lives in and on the reproductive tract and is a reproductive tract associated infection.
Initial exposure to the disease usually results in infertility. An infected mare may fail to conceive or she may spontaneously abort. Abortions related to CEM are considered rare; however, there has been one fully documented case.
Foals delivered by infected mares may become infected as they pass through the birth canal.
Stallions on the other hand exhibit no clinical signs but can carry the CEM bacteria on their external genitalia for years without ever developing antibodies in their blood.
Pleasure horses and non-breeding horses are not at risk of being infected.
Most veterinarians are aware of the threats of CEM and the necessary testing protocols and treatments. All known infected horses and quarantined suspects must be placed under U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulated quarantine since this is a federally reportable disease. Therefore, all treatments and follow-up cultures must follow the prescribed protocol and oversight of the State Veterinarian office in conjunction with the USDA.
If you are concerned about your breeding horses, your veterinarian can obtain the proper culture samples needed for a diagnosis. There are special requirements for sampling and for culturing this bacterium and these must be followed to achieve reliable results.
Learn more CEM Mare and CEM Stallion