(a press release for horse owners from The Texas Animal Health Commission)Texas is among 27 states tracing and testing horses that may have been exposed to contagiousequine metritis (CEM), a highly contagious disease that can be transmitted during breedingartificial insemination. CEM can cause temporary infertility of horses. The disease, not knownto affect humans, was first detected in the U.S. in 1978, then again in 1979. In both instances,the infection was eradicated.
In mid-December 2008, a CEM-infected quarter horse stallion was detected in Kentuckyduring routine testing for international semen shipment. The USDA and Kentucky animal health,authorities quickly initiated an epidemiological investigation, leading to the testing of morehorses. To date, seven infected stallions have been detected: four in Kentucky, and threeIndiana. The Indiana stallions had spent part of the 2008 breeding season on the Kentuckypremises where the initial CEM case was detected.
As of January 2, 2009, 78 potentially exposed horses (nine stallions and 69 mares) in 27have been identified and located, and placed under hold order or quarantine by state animalhealth authorities, pending test results.
In Texas, veterinarians from the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC), the state regulatoryagency for livestock health, have contacted the owners of 14 mares and a stallion withepidemiological links to the infected horses. Testing of the 15 horses in Texas will begin this week. Currently, Texas has no known CEM infection.
As the epidemiological investigation widens, at least 250 additional horses are being traced inmore than 25 states.
Dr. Ellis, Texas’ assistant state veterinarian, stressed that CEM is spread during breeding, not by casual contact or shared boarding facilities. CEM may be transmitted either during natural service or through artificial insemination.
CEM-infected horses must be quarantined and treated with disinfectants and antibiotics over a period of several weeks. Following a course of successful treatment and re-evaluation, theanimals may be certified CEM-negative and released from quarantine.
Please check back for more information on the CEM in the Unted States as the situation as it develops.
