Contagious Equine Metritis

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image of horseJuly 2011 Case – Arizona
In July 2011, the USDA's National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) confirmed that an Arabian stallion on a central Arizona premises was positive for Taylorella equigenitalis, the bacterium that causes contagious equine metritis (CEM). The NVSL has also determined that the strain of the bacterium does not match any T. equigenitalis strains recently found in the United States, indicating this case is not related to the California CEM case in May 2010, the multi-State CEM outbreak detected in late 2008, or imported stallions found positive in 2006. >> Read More

May 2010 Case – California
In May 2010, the USDA's National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) confirmed that an Arabian stallion on a southern California premises was positive for Taylorella equigenitalis, the bacterium that causes contagious equine metritis (CEM). A thorough epidemiologic and diagnostic investigation was carried out to determine the origin of the CEM bacterium. Final analysis of all the epidemiologic and diagnostic findings from the investigation indicated that the positive Arabian stallion was contaminated with T. equigenitalis prior to his arrival in the United States and that no further spread of the bacterium occurred after he arrived. The positive imported stallion successfully completed antibiotic treatment and was confirmed to be free of T. equigenitalis.  >> Read More

December 2008 Outbreak – California, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Texas, and Wisconsin
In December 2008, a Quarter Horse stallion on a central Kentucky premises was confirmed by the USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) as positive for Taylorella equigenitalis, the bacterium that causes contagious equine metritis (CEM). A thorough epidemiologic and diagnostic investigation was carried out to determine the origin of the CEM bacterium. Final analysis of all the epidemiologic and diagnostic findings from the investigation indicated that a stallion imported from Denmark in late 2000 was the likely source of the outbreak. The source stallion and 27 other horses found positive in the outbreak were all successfully treated with antibiotics and confirmed as free of T. equigenitalis. >> Read More

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

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Mar 6, 2009 Fourth Wisconsin Stallion Tests Positive for CEM
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Feb 24, 2009 California Mare Tests Positive for Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM)
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Jan 28, 2009 Maine Horses Potentially Exposed to Contagious Disease
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Jan 22, 2009 Commissioner Alerts Horse Owners of Contagious Horse Disease Nine New York Horses Potentially Exposed to Contagious Equine Metritis
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Jan 15, 2009 CEM-Infected Stallion Confirmed in Texas
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Jan 13, 2009 Stallion in Wisconsin Tests Positive for CEM; Animal Health Authorities Checking for Other Exposed Mares, Stallions
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Jan 7, 2009 Wisconsin Horses Quarantined, Will Be Tested After Exposure to Reproductive Diseasecontent-divider
Jan 7, 2009 Colorado Horse Being Tested for Equine Disease
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Jan 7, 2009 Montana Mare Quarantined for CEM
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Jan 5, 2009 Texas Among 27 States Testing Horses for Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM)
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Jan 5, 2009 Horse Disease Could Affect Oklahoma Breeders
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Dec 31, 2008 Three Indiana Horses Test Positive for Contagious Equine Metritis
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Dec 30, 2008 North Dakota Mare Exposed to Disease
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Dec 23, 2008 State Veterinarian Quarantines Virginia Farms Due to Contagious Equine Metritis

Publications

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Contagious Equine Metritis
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Contagious Equine Metritis: Q&A's
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Related Links

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Last Modified: October 17, 2012