Diagnosis and treatment of four stallions, carriers of the contagious metritis organism–case report.
Abstract: Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM), a venereal disease of horses caused by the bacterium Taylorella equigenitalis, was first diagnosed in 1977 and subsequently spread to many nations [Proc 24th AM Assoc Equine Pract (1979) 287]. The disease was confirmed in the United States in 1978 [Proc Am Assoc Equine Pract (1983) 295]. Specific regulatory procedures for this disease have been established in the United States and 37 other countries. From 1999 through 2001, four of 120 imported European stallions tested positive for CEM at a quarantine facility in Darlington, MD, USA. Two stallions were identified by positive bacterial cultures for T. equigenitalis on arrival. The other two positive stallions were negative on initial bacterial cultures, but were identified as CEM carriers when test mares (that they had mated) were culture-positive for T. equigenitalis. Since T. equigenitalis, is a fastidious slow-growing coccobacillus, additional sets of samples taken over a interval might be required to ensure positive stallions are detected before mating test mares. Likewise, additional sets of samples taken over a long interval after treatment of a stallion for CEM might be required to ensure that positive stallions treated for CEM are detected before mating test mares. Aggressive systemic antibiotic therapy accompanied by routine topical therapy might be required to treat some CEM-positive stallions.
Publication Date: 2003-12-10 PubMed ID: 14662155DOI: 10.1016/s0093-691x(03)00228-0Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research paper is about the detection and treatment of Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM) in four imported European stallions between 1999 and 2001 at a US facility. The study further emphasizes the need for comprehensive and prolonged testing and treatment for successful CEM management.
Background
- The paper revolves around Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM), a sexually transmitted disease primarily in horses. Taylorella equigenitalis, a type of bacterium, causes the disease. Since its first diagnosis in 1977, it has travelled across many nations, forcing countries like the US and 37 others to create specific regulatory procedures for controlling the disease. The disease was confirmed in the United States in 1978.
Findings
- In a three-year period from 1999 to 2001, of the 120 European stallions imported for testing at a quarantine facility in Maryland, four tested positive for CEM. The identification of these CEM carriers had two levels. The first level identified two stallions on arrival itself, through positive bacterial cultures for T. equigenitalis. The other two were initially confirmed negative through bacterial cultures, but subsequent testing marked them CEM positive when test mares they had mated with displayed positive cultures for T. equigenitalis.
- The paper highlights the characteristics of T. equigenitalis as a fastidious slow-growing coccobacillus. Because of these traits, multiple samples need to be taken over a lengthy interval for confirming that stallions are CEM positive and that they are disease-free post-treatment before mating with test mares.
Treatment
- The treatment protocol employed for these CEM-positive stallions was aggressive systemic antibiotic therapy in conjunction with routine topical therapy. The text indicates that some CEM-positive stallions might need this rigorous approach to successfully tackle the disease.
Conclusion
- In essence, this research underlines the importance of thorough and prolonged testing and treatment protocols for the effective management of CEM. Any lapse in this could lead to further spread of the disease, rendering it more challenging for equine practitioners to control.
Cite This Article
APA
Kristula MA, Smith BI.
(2003).
Diagnosis and treatment of four stallions, carriers of the contagious metritis organism–case report.
Theriogenology, 61(2-3), 595-601.
https://doi.org/10.1016/s0093-691x(03)00228-0 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, 382 W Street Road, Kennett Square, PA 19348, USA. kristula@vet.upenn.edu
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Carrier State / diagnosis
- Carrier State / drug therapy
- Carrier State / veterinary
- Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / diagnosis
- Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / drug therapy
- Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / drug therapy
- Horses
- Male
- Povidone-Iodine
- Silver Sulfadiazine / administration & dosage
- Taylorella equigenitalis
- Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination / therapeutic use
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Wasiński B, Złotnicka J, Kubajka M, Olejarczyk M, Szulowski K. Taylorella equigenitalis infections in Poland - results of current diagnostic investigations. J Vet Res 2025 Sep;69(3):339-344.
- Kabir A, Lamichhane B, Habib T, Adams A, El-Sheikh Ali H, Slovis NM, Troedsson MHT, Helmy YA. Antimicrobial Resistance in Equines: A Growing Threat to Horse Health and Beyond-A Comprehensive Review. Antibiotics (Basel) 2024 Jul 29;13(8).
- Knox A, Zerna G, Beddoe T. Current and Future Advances in the Detection and Surveillance of Biosecurity-Relevant Equine Bacterial Diseases Using Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP). Animals (Basel) 2023 Aug 18;13(16).
- Al-Kass Z, Eriksson E, Bagge E, Wallgren M, Morrell JM. Bacteria detected in the genital tract, semen or pre-ejaculatory fluid of Swedish stallions from 2007 to 2017. Acta Vet Scand 2019 May 30;61(1):25.
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