Diagnostic and epidemiologic analysis of the 2008-2010 investigation of a multi-year outbreak of contagious equine metritis in the United States.
Abstract: Contagious equine metritis (CEM) is a highly contagious venereal disease of horses caused by Taylorella equigenitalis. During testing for semen export purposes, a stallion in Kentucky was found to be T. equigenitalis culture positive in December of 2008. This finding triggered an extensive regulatory investigation to search for additional positive horses, determine the extent of the outbreak, identify the potential source of the outbreak, and ultimately return the United States to CEM-free status. The investigation included over 1000 horses located in 48 states. Diagnostic testing found a total of 22 stallions, 1 gelding and 5 mares culture positive for T. equigenitalis. Epidemiologic analysis indicated that all of the positive horses were linked to a single common source, most likely a Fjord stallion imported into the United States in 2000. The T. equigenitalis strain subsequently spread to other stallions via undetermined indirect mechanisms at shared breeding facilities, and to mares via artificial insemination and live breeding. This CEM outbreak and investigation represent the largest ever in the United States based on the number of exposed horses tested and their geographic distribution.
Published by Elsevier B.V.
Publication Date: 2011-06-28 PubMed ID: 21715032DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2011.05.015Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- U.S. Gov't
- Non-P.H.S.
Summary
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This research paper explores an investigation into a multi-year outbreak of Contagious equine metritis (CEM) in the United States between 2008-2010. The study highlights the spread of the disease, the diagnostic measures conducted, and the identification of the single common source that contributed to the outbreak.
Background
- Contagious equine metritis (CEM) is a highly infectious venereal disease found in horses, caused by the bacteria Taylorella equigenitalis.
- In late 2008, a stallion in Kentucky tested positive for T. equigenitalis during a routine examination for semen export which initiated a comprehensive regulatory investigation.
Scope of the Investigation
- The investigation involved over 1000 horses from 48 states with the objective of identifying any other positive cases, determining the range of the outbreak, pinpointing the potential source of the disease, and reinstating the United States to a CEM-free status.
Diagnostic Findings
- Through the testing process, 22 stallions, 1 gelding and 5 mares were found to be culture positive for T. equigenitalis.
Epidemiologic Analysis
- The in-depth epidemiologic analysis revealed that all the positive cases were connected to a single common source, possibly a Fjord stallion that had been imported into the United States in 2000.
- This particular strain of T. equigenitalis then spread to other stallions via uncertain indirect methods at shared breeding facilities, and to mares through artificial insemination and live breeding.
Idea of the Scale
- This outbreak of CEM and the subsequent investigation is considered the largest ever in the United States based on the number of horses examined and their wide geographical distribution.
Cite This Article
APA
Erdman MM, Creekmore LH, Fox PE, Pelzel AM, Porter-Spalding BA, Aalsburg AM, Cox LK, Morningstar-Shaw BR, Crom RL.
(2011).
Diagnostic and epidemiologic analysis of the 2008-2010 investigation of a multi-year outbreak of contagious equine metritis in the United States.
Prev Vet Med, 101(3-4), 219-228.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2011.05.015 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- USDA, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services, National Veterinary Services Laboratories, 1920 Dayton Ave, Ames, IA 50010, USA. matthew.m.erdman@aphis.usda.gov
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- DNA, Bacterial / chemistry
- DNA, Bacterial / genetics
- Disease Outbreaks / veterinary
- Female
- Fluorescent Antibody Technique / veterinary
- Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / epidemiology
- Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / microbiology
- Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / transmission
- Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horse Diseases / transmission
- Horses
- Latex Fixation Tests / veterinary
- Male
- Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
- Pregnancy
- RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / chemistry
- RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases / epidemiology
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases / microbiology
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases / transmission
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases / veterinary
- Taylorella equigenitalis / genetics
- Taylorella equigenitalis / isolation & purification
- United States / epidemiology
Citations
This article has been cited 9 times.- 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).
- Scholtz M, Guthrie AJ, Newton R, Schulman ML. Review of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae as venereal pathogens in horses. Equine Vet J 2025 May;57(3):587-597.
- 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).
- Tyrnenopoulou P, Fthenakis GC. Clinical Aspects of Bacterial Distribution and Antibiotic Resistance in the Reproductive System of Equids. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023 Mar 28;12(4).
- Taylor S. A review of equine sepsis. Equine Vet Educ 2015 Feb;27(2):99-109.
- May CE, Guthrie AJ, Schulman ML. Direct culture-independent sequence typing of Taylorella equigenitalis obtained from genital swabs and frozen semen samples from South African horses. J Vet Diagn Invest 2019 Sep;31(5):792-794.
- 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.
- Hicks J, Stuber T, Lantz K, Erdman M, Robbe-Austerman S, Huang X. Genomic diversity of Taylorella equigenitalis introduced into the United States from 1978 to 2012. PLoS One 2018;13(3):e0194253.
- Yang J, Yang Y, Xia M, Wang L, Zhou W, Yang Y, Jiang Y, Wang H, Qian J, Jin L, Wang X. A genetic variant of the NTCP gene is associated with HBV infection status in a Chinese population. BMC Cancer 2016 Mar 12;16:211.
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