Survival of contagious equine metritis bacteria in transport media.

This research investigates the survivability of contagious equine metritis (CEM) bacteria in different types of transport mediums at various temperatures. The results demonstrate that the bacteria persist longer at certain temperatures in Amies modified transport (AMT) medium mixed with charcoal.

Background of Research

• The goal of the research was to study the survivability of bacteria that cause Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM), a highly infectious disease in horses, under different conditions. The transport mediums used for this purpose were AMT medium, AMT medium with charcoal, and Stuart transport medium.
• Specifically, the research aimed to evaluate the bacteria’s longevity at 37, 22, 4, and -70 degrees Celsius in these different media.

Key Findings

• The CEM bacteria showed longer survival periods at 22, 4, and -70 degrees Celsius in AMT medium supplemented with charcoal compared to AMT and Stuart transport media.
• When the CEM bacteria were stored in exudate (fluid emitted by wounds or abrasions) without any transport medium, the bacterial count decreased 15-fold at 22 degrees Celsius and twofold at 4 degrees Celsius in a single day.
• On the 10th day of the experiment, which marked the completion of the study, CEM bacteria could still be isolated from exudate on cotton-tipped swabs from all three transport mediums at 4 and -70 degrees Celsius.
• Nevertheless, at 4 degrees Celsius, the survival of CEM bacteria was found to be superior in AMT medium combined with charcoal when compared to AMT and Stuart transport media.

Implications of the Study

• The research provides valuable insights into the optimum transport medium and temperature conditions for the viability of contagious equine metritis bacteria. This can help improve current veterinary diagnostic processes involving these bacteria.
• The survival of CEM bacteria in different environments can influence the spread and progression of contagious equine metritis, which can help veterinarians devise better preventative measures and treatments.
• Additionally, the fact that CEM bacteria survived to the end of the experiment in all transport mediums suggests the considerable resilience of these bacteria, highlighting the need for stringent controls to prevent transmission.