Contagious equine metritis.
Abstract: Contagious equine metritis (CEM) is a highly contagious venereal infection of equids caused by Taylorella equigenitalis, a bacterium with fastidious growth requirements. A disease of major international concern, CEM can be the cause of short-term infertility and, very rarely, abortion in mares. Unlike the mare, stallions exposed to T. equigenitalis do not develop clinical signs of disease. CEM is transmitted by direct or indirect venereal contact. The carrier state occurs in the mare and the stallion and carrier animals are frequently the source of infection for new outbreaks of the disease. There are streptomycin-sensitive and -resistant biotypes of T. equigenitalis, and diagnosis is based primarily on culture of the bacterium from its predilection sites in the reproductive tract of the mare and the stallion. Treatment modalities are available for elimination of the carrier state. Prevention and control of CEM is achievable through a comprehensive programme of breeding farm management that includes early detection and treatment of carrier mares and stallions.
Publication Date: 1996-06-01 PubMed ID: 8800545DOI: 10.1016/0147-9571(96)00005-7Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research article discusses Contagious equine metritis (CEM), a venereal infection in horses caused by the bacterium Taylorella equigenitalis, outlining its impacts, transmission, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.
Understanding Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM)
- Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM) is a potent venereal disease that affects horses. The bacterium Taylorella equigenitalis causes the infection, which has a preference for growing under particular conditions.
- CEM is of significant international importance because it leads to temporary infertility in female horses (mares) and, in rare cases, abortion. This has severe implications for breeding programs and horse populations globally.
- Interestingly, male horses (stallions) exposed to the bacterium do not show clinical symptoms of the disease, behaving as carriers.
- The transmission of CEM occurs via direct or indirect sexual contact, leading to the spread of the disease among horse populations.
Disease Transmission and Identification
- The carrier state of CEM can reside in both mares and stallions, often being the source of infection for new disease outbreaks.
- The bacterium Taylorella equigenitalis has two biotypes—sensitive and resistant to the antibiotic streptomycin, diversifying the challenge posed by the infection.
- For the diagnosis of CEM, vets primarily rely on culturing the bacterium from its preferred sites in the reproductive tracts of mares and stallions. This allows for the detection and confirmation of the infection.
Treatment and Prevention of CEM
- Treatment options for eliminating the carrier state of CEM are available, inhibiting the spread of the disease.
- Preventing and controlling CEM is achievable through a well-rounded breeding farm management program. This includes early detection and treatment of carrier mares and stallions, effectively limiting the potential for new outbreaks.
Cite This Article
APA
Timoney PJ.
(1996).
Contagious equine metritis.
Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis, 19(3), 199-204.
https://doi.org/10.1016/0147-9571(96)00005-7 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Science, Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington 40546-0099, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Carrier State / veterinary
- Female
- Gram-Negative Bacteria
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / prevention & control
- Horse Diseases / transmission
- Horses
- Male
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Bacterial / complications
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Bacterial / diagnosis
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Bacterial / epidemiology
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Bacterial / veterinary
Citations
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