Contagious uterine inflammation of the horse

The contagious uterine inflammation of the horse ( Contagious Equine Metritis , English Contagious Equine Metritis , CEM ) is a contagious cover disease in horses caused by the bacterium Taylorella equigenitalis .

CEM is a very serious disease because of its easy transferability. Also, taking into account the fact that mares are only ready to mate seasonally, CEM can have serious consequences on the reproductive efficiency of breeding animals.

Thoroughbreds appear to be more susceptible to the disease than other horses. Because individual animals remain asymptomatic, the disease is difficult to control. According to previous knowledge, the CEM cannot be transferred to humans.

history

The first case was diagnosed in Newmarket ( UK ) in 1977 . The insidious nature of the disease makes it difficult to pinpoint its origin and spread.

The following countries are likely to be affected by the CEM: The EU countries Belgium , Denmark , Germany , Finland , France , Greece , Great Britain , Ireland , Italy , Croatia , Luxembourg , the Netherlands , Austria , Slovenia , Sweden , Slovakia and the Czech Republic , which are not -EU countries Bosnia-Herzegovina , Macedonia , Montenegro , Norway , Switzerland and Serbia as well as the overseas countries Guinea-Bissau and Japan .

transmission

CEM is usually transmitted directly through sexual intercourse. However, it can also be transmitted indirectly through artificial insemination or via vectors such as contaminated hands or instruments. Outbreaks often occur in breeding facilities where many horses gather.

Undiscovered disease carrier mares and stallions are the source of infection for acute outbreaks. During the breeding season, a porter stallion can infect numerous mares before the disease is even discovered.

Clinical symptoms

Initial contact with the disease usually leads to infertility. An infected mare cannot accept or spontaneously abort (recognizable by the horses returning early after mating). However, abortions caused by the CEM are rare. Stallions have no clinical symptoms, but can harbor and transmit the bacteria in their external genital organs for years.

There are three general degrees of disease in mares:

Acute: The active inflammation of the uterus causes a visible, thick, milky and slimy vaginal discharge ten to 14 days after mating.

Chronic: the milder uterine inflammation causes less vaginal discharge; however, the infection is more difficult to eliminate.

Carrier: The bacteria are established in the sex tract. The mare, although asymptomatic, is still infectious and can remain a carrier for several months or more.

Two of the most common STDs in mares are caused by the bacteria Klebsiella and Pseudomonas . Clinically, these infections can hardly be distinguished from CEM. Only evidence of Taylorella equigenitalis in the laboratory is considered reliable evidence of the CEM.

Diagnosis

For the diagnosis of mares, smears are taken from the cervix or the lining of the uterus during the steeds or from the pit of the clitoris or indentations. In stallions, the smear is taken from the penis foreskin , the glans pit or the urethral indentation . The samples must be cooled in an Aimes transport medium (with activated charcoal ) at 4–6 ° C and sent to the laboratory within 48 hours.

Multiple serological blood tests can also be used in mares to diagnose antibodies to the bacteria. No antibodies are formed in stallions.

treatment

The mare can be treated successfully until the uterus no longer contains traces of Taylorella equigenitalis . However, this takes several months. The external sexual organs of mare and stallion can be treated with disinfectants and antibiotics. Once a day for five days, the external genital organs should be carefully cleaned with 2% chlorhexidine in a mild washing solution and then rinsed with warm saline. The external genital organs should then be rubbed with an antibiotic ointment such as nitrofurazone .

Prevention and control

When handling mares and stallions, strict hygiene should be observed (disposable gloves that are changed after each horse, clean and sterile instruments). In Germany, contagious uterine inflammation in horses is one of the notifiable animal diseases .

Web links

• Contagious Equine Metritis ( Memento from February 5, 2009 in the Internet Archive )

Individual evidence

1. ↑ § 3 of the Ordinance on Notifiable Animal Diseases (TKrMeldpflV) in the version of the announcement of February 11, 2011 ( Federal Law Gazette I p. 252 ), last amended by Article 381 of the Ordinance of August 31, 2015 ( Federal Law Gazette I p. 1474 )

This article is about a health issue. It is not used for self-diagnosis and does not replace a diagnosis by a doctor. Please note the information on health issues !