[Contagious equine metritis in The Netherlands].

The study reports on the first detection of Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM), a sexually transmitted disease in horses, in the Netherlands in 1987. It discusses the instances of the disease, its diagnosis, and effects on horse breeding.

Incidence of CEM

• The research chronicles the first time Contagious Equine Metritis, a sexually transmitted disease in horses, was detected in the Netherlands in the year 1987. This disease was identified in five Dutch saddle-horse mares spread across three different outbreaks. However, the researchers were unable to trace the origins of these infections in all the reported cases.

Diagnosis and Disease Agent

• The disease manifests because of an organism called Taylorella equigenitalis. Isolates of this organism were responsible for these outbreaks. However, the diagnosis was complicated due to the auto-agglutination demonstrated by the isolates. Auto-agglutination is the clumping together of cells in the absence of an antibody, which could obscure the pathogen’s detection.
• To solve the issue, the researchers utilized an indirect immune fluorescence test to diagnose one of the isolates. It is a method that uses the reflection of light from antibodies to identify and confirm the presence of antigens or pathogens.

Characteristics of the Strains

• The study successfully isolated five strains of Taylorella equigenitalis. All these isolates exhibited resistance to streptomycin, a commonly used antibiotic, thereby indicating their improved capability to survive and cause infections in treated hosts.

CEM Prevalence and Significance

• Furthermore, the paper summarizes the prevalence of Contagious Equine Metritis since 1981, providing a longer-term insight into the disease’s progression and impact.
• Lastly, the researchers discuss the importance and implications of CEM on horse breeding. As a sexually transmitted disease, CEM can have serious consequences on horse populations, by either directly causing illness or through restrictions on movement and breeding of infected animals, having a potentially significant negative impact on the industry.