Contagious Equine Metritis Investigation and Testing Continues in Kentucky

  State and federal agriculture officials have confirmed three cases of contagious equine metritis (CEM) at a farm in central Kentucky.

Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer has asked U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer to move quickly to declare a state of agricultural emergency and commit federal funds in connection with an outbreak of contagious equine metritis in the Bluegrass state.

The request is a proactive measure to ensure that sufficient resources are available to manage the disease outbreak, Commissioner Farmer said.

"It is important for the people of Kentucky to understand that this could be a serious situation in our signature equine industry," Commissioner Farmer said. "The state is working with federal authorities to contain the outbreak and determine its source."

Two more stallions have tested positive for contagious equine metritis, making a total of three from a single central Kentucky farm. The stallions added to the list are a 13-year-old American Quarter Horse and a 4-year-old Paint. A 16-year-old American Quarter Horse tested positive December 10, and the National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa, confirmed the result December 15. The affected stallions and all exposed horses on the farm have been quarantined.

Testing was performed by the University of Kentucky Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center in Lexington, Kentucky, as a preliminary step to shipping frozen semen to the European Union.

"The expertise available at LDDC greatly enhances our ability to respond both quickly and effectively to disease outbreaks," Kentucky State Veterinarian Robert C. Stout said.

The infected horses are being treated, and exposed horses have been tested for the infection.

Grant Rezabek, D.V.M., chair of the AQHA Equine Research Committee commented:  "Protocols for testing, quarantine and treatment of CEM are well established. While the disease causes breeders serious concerns, it is a manageable condition. We have full confidence in the actions taken by the USDA/APHIS and the Kentucky state veterinarian to deal with and minimize the potential spread of the disease. Concerned members are encouraged to contact their own practicing veterinarian, their State Veterinarian or to visit the USDA Web site."

Contagious equine metritis is a transmissible, exotic venereal disease in horses. It usually results in infertility in mares and, on rare occasions, can cause mares to spontaneously abort. Infected stallions exhibit no clinical signs but can carry the CEM bacteria for years. Commonly transmitted during sexual intercourse, CEM also may be transmitted indirectly through artificial insemination or contact with contaminated hands or objects. There is no evidence that CEM affects people.

The disease can be treated with disinfectants and antibiotics. CEM-positive mares and mares in Kentucky from CEM-positive countries are required by state regulations to go through a treatment protocol and remain in quarantine for no less than 21 days. Stallions in Kentucky that have CEM or come from a CEM-positive country also are required to remain quarantined until a treatment protocol is completed and they test negative for the disease.

The first cases of CEM in the United States were diagnosed in central Kentucky in 1978. Another outbreak occurred in Missouri in 1979. The disease was eradicated rapidly in both outbreaks.

To learn more about the disease, go to the Kentucky Department of Agriculture's Web site is located at www.kyagr.com/.