Equine Health
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Colorado Horse Development Authority Sponsors Equine Health Research Study Morris Animal Foundation Study Based at Colorado State University Chosen DENVER/August 8, 2011 - The Colorado Horse Development Authority (CHDA) recently chose to co-sponsor a study funded by Morris Animal Foundation on finding a fertility vaccine to help control wild horse populations. The research is being conducted at Colorado State University. The mission of the Colorado Horse Development Authority is to promote and sustain the growth and development of the horse industry. By sponsoring an equine health study through Morris Animal Foundation, the Authority hopes to contribute to finding a safe, effective way for authorities to help control the wild horse population in the U.S. There is widespread concern that overabundant free-range horse populations are altering natural plant communities and reducing forage areas for native wildlife and domestic livestock. Federal and state land management agencies have tried to reduce herds by periodically rounding up horses to adopt out or sell, but these efforts are inadequate and expensive and have resulted in injuries to both animals and humans. Controlling the fertility of free-range female horses may be more cost-effective and humane, but current contraceptives have limited effectiveness and cause undesirable side effects. Researchers will administer a hormone contraceptive vaccine to induce infertility in female horses and will then evaluate its effect on reproductive and social behaviors in free-ranging horses. If results are positive, the contraceptive could provide a safe and effective tool for managing wild horses on public rangelands. The Colorado Horse Development Authority seeks organizations to partner with and find solutions to industry concerns. "As CHDA evaluates how it can best serve the growth of industry and equine community" , says Executive Director, Bill Scebbi, "It is important to be working with and maintaining relationships with groups like Morris Animal Foundation and CSU." "These organizations are leaders in their field and understand the importance of projects that help control wild horse populations. They are good at what they do!" About CHDA: The mission of the Colorado Horse Development Authority (CHDA) is to promote and sustain the growth and development of the state's horse industry. CHDA was created by the Colorado State Legislature to manage and distribute the Horse Promotion Assessment funds collected as a portion of brand inspection fees. For further information visit our website at www.CHDA.org. Contact: Bill Scebbi, Executive Director ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Awakening the Dormant Dragon: Neurological Form of Equine Herpesvirus-1 (White Paper on Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy (EHM) Please see the link below for an excellent and comprehensive paper on EHV-1 (EMH, specifically) put out by UC-Davis and is a great resource for you and information for your clients, horse owners, etc. http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/ceh/docs/EHV-1WhitePaper.pdf Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1) Situation Report Background Definitions for This Report Summary Information on Current Situation Current Information by Affected State Table 1. Horse Information Table 2. Premises Information ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ July 6, 2009 Please find attached the latest updates on the CEM situation. Almost 83% of all mares in the country have completed their testing and treatment protocols. Additionally, Georgia, Indiana and Kentucky have completed all testing and treatment of both positive and exposed horses and have been declared "CEM Free." In North Carolina we are down to two mares that still need to go through the official USDA CEM testing and treatment protocol before our state can be declared CEM Free as well. Please let me know if there are any questions regarding this issue or others in which we can be of assistance. Thank you. Tom Ray, DVM, MPH July 2, 2009 TO: State Animal Health Officials, AVICs SUBJECT: FY 2009 CEM Incident Situation Report; Includes Data Reported Through COB June 30, 2009 A. Epidemiology Summary A total of 21 stallions, including one that is now a gelding, have been confirmed by USDA's National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) as positive for Taylorella equigenitalis, the causative organism of contagious equine metritis (CEM). The NVSL has also confirmed that five mares are positive for T. equigenitalis. None of the positive horses have yet been identified as the source of the outbreak; the epidemiologic investigation continues to pursue all available information relative to determining the origin of this outbreak, but no conclusions can yet be drawn. In addition to the 21 positive stallions and 5 positive mares, locations have been confirmed for 960 additional horses exposed to T. equigenitalis. The total of 986 horses, located in 48 States, includes 271 stallions and 715 mares. The only States that currently have no positive or exposed horses are Hawaii and Rhode Island. Of the 271 stallions, 143 (52.8 percent), including 132 exposed and 11 formerly positive, have now completed their entire testing and treatment protocol and are negative for T. equigenitalis (see Table 1). Another 67 exposed stallions have had at least one set of negative cultures prior to test breeding. Of the 715 mares, 592 (82.8 percent) have completed their testing and treatment protocol and are negative for T. equigenitalis (see Table 1). The 21 positive stallions have been found in 7 States: Georgia (1), Illinois (3), Indiana (3), Iowa (1), Kentucky (4), Texas (1), and Wisconsin (8). Eleven of the positive stallions (1 in Georgia, 3 in Indiana, 4 in Kentucky, 1 in Texas, 2 in Wisconsin) have successfully completed their treatment and subsequent testing protocol and are now free of T. equigenitalis. Of the five positive mares, two were found in California, two in Illinois, and one in Wisconsin. All of the positive mares in California (2) and Illinois (2) have completed their treatment and testing protocols and are now free of T. equigenitalis. Three of the eight States that have had positive horses, Georgia, Indiana, and Kentucky, have now completed testing and treatment protocols for all known positive and exposed horses and are currently considered free of CEM. In addition to the four Kentucky stallions, the Texas stallion and all three Indiana stallions were resident in 2008 on the central Kentucky premises where the initial T. equigenitalis detection occurred. None of the positive stallions in Wisconsin have been on the Kentucky premises. The first Wisconsin stallion detected as positive for T. equigenitalis was co-located during the 2007 breeding season in Wisconsin with one of the three positive stallions currently in Indiana. That Indiana stallion was on the Kentucky premises in 2008. The second and third Wisconsin stallions were co-located with the first positive Wisconsin stallion during both the 2007 and 2008 breeding seasons in Wisconsin. The fourth Wisconsin stallion was co-located during the 2006 breeding season in Wisconsin with the third positive Wisconsin stallion and during the 2005 and 2006 breeding seasons with the Indiana stallion that was in Kentucky in 2008. The fifth positive Wisconsin stallion had semen collected on multiple occasions from 2004 to 2009 at the same premises in Wisconsin where the fourth positive Wisconsin stallion and all three positive Illinois stallions were collected in various years from 2004 to 2007. The sixth positive Wisconsin stallion had semen collected several times from 2004 to 2008 at the same Wisconsin premises as the fifth Wisconsin stallion. The seventh positive Wisconsin stallion had semen collected in at least three different breeding seasons at the same Wisconsin premises associated with six other positive stallions, including the fourth, fifth, and sixth positive Wisconsin stallions. The eighth Wisconsin positive stallion had semen collected several times from 2005 to 2008 at the same Wisconsin premises as the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh positive Wisconsin stallions; he was imported into the United States through a CEM quarantine facility in Florida as a 7-year-old. The positive stallion in Georgia was co-located during the 2008 breeding season in Wisconsin with the first, second, and third positive Wisconsin stallions. The first positive stallion in Illinois was co-located for periods of time during the 2004 and 2005 breeding seasons at the same premises in Wisconsin as the fourth positive Wisconsin stallion. The second and third positive stallions in Illinois reside on the same premises as the first Illinois stallion (and the positive Illinois mare). All three positive Illinois stallions were also collected at another premises in Illinois in 2007, and the first and third Illinois stallions were collected at that same Illinois premises in 2006. The positive gelding in Iowa was collected (as then a stallion) during the 2007 breeding season at the Wisconsin facility with which eight other positive stallions are known to have been associated. There are 30 States known to have exposed or positive stallions: Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. The exposure for most of the stallions has been co-location at a breeding facility with at least one positive stallion. Table 2 has more details on the status of all stallions that have been located to date. There are 46 States known to have exposed or positive mares; the only States without exposed or positive mares are Hawaii, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wyoming. The exposure for most of the mares has been through AI. Table 3 has more details on the locations and testing results of exposed mares. An exposed horse is one that was bred, either naturally or via artificial insemination, to a horse positive for T. equigenitalis, or one that is otherwise epidemiologically linked to a positive horse, as determined by State and Federal animal health officials. The USDA APHIS Hot Issues web link for CEM is: The USDA APHIS National Center for Import and Export (NCIE) International Animal Export Regulations web link is: www.aphis.usda.gov/regulations/vs/iregs/animals/. The NCIE has posted new requirements for both the temporary and the permanent entry into Mexico of horses from CEM-free States and horses from States with diagnosed CEM cases. The requirements can be found at: www.aphis.usda.gov/regulations/vs/iregs/animals/animal_mexico.shtml. B. Diagnostic Testing Summary NVSL has completed antibiotic susceptibility testing of Taylorella equigenitalis isolates from 18 positive stallions (one now a gelding), 4 positive test mares (representing 3 positive stallions), and 5 positive exposed mares. All isolates tested show the same antibiotic susceptibility profile: Amikacin disk - susceptible Gentamicin disk - susceptible The NVSL has also completed pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) on all of those isolates. All isolates showed the same PFGE banding pattern. The pattern for these isolates does not match any other isolates from the CEM culture library at the NVSL, including isolates from import quarantine stations and isolates from U.S. outbreaks in 1978 and 2006. Table 1. Status Summary for All Exposed Horses Table 2. Location and Testing Status of Exposed Stallions Table 3. Location and Testing Results of Exposed Mares ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Please see the latest SitRep from USDA attached. More horses are finishing up their testing and treatment and being released. North Carolina has two more mares currently undergoing the USDA protocol and should be released in a couple of weeks, leaving only three mares and zero stallions left from this state. Please let me know of any comments or questions you might have. Thank you. Tom Ray, DVM, MPH TO: State Animal Health Officials, AVICs SUBJECT: FY 2009 CEM Incident Situation Report; Includes Data Reported Through COB June 23, 2009 A. Epidemiology Summary A total of 21 stallions, including one that is now a gelding, have been confirmed by USDA's National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) as positive for Taylorella equigenitalis, the causative organism of contagious equine metritis (CEM). The NVSL has also confirmed that five mares are positive for T. equigenitalis. None of the positive horses have yet been identified as the source of the outbreak; the epidemiologic investigation continues to pursue all available information relative to determining the origin of this outbreak, but no conclusions can yet be drawn. In addition to the 21 positive stallions and 5 positive mares, locations have been confirmed for 952 additional horses exposed to T. equigenitalis. The total of 978 horses, located in 48 States, includes 270 stallions and 708 mares. The only States that currently have no positive or exposed horses are Hawaii and Rhode Island. Of the 270 stallions, 110 (40.7 percent), including 100 exposed and 10 formerly positive, have now completed their entire testing and treatment protocol and are negative for T. equigenitalis (see Table 1). Another 92 exposed stallions have had at least one set of negative cultures prior to test breeding. Of the 708 mares, 572 (80.8 percent) have completed their testing and treatment protocol and are negative for T. equigenitalis (see Table 1). The 21 positive stallions have been found in 7 States: Georgia (1), Illinois (3), Indiana (3), Iowa (1), Kentucky (4), Texas (1), and Wisconsin (8). Ten of the positive stallions (3 in Indiana, 4 in Kentucky, 1 in Texas, 2 in Wisconsin) have successfully completed their treatment and subsequent testing protocol and are now free of T. equigenitalis. Of the five positive mares, two were found in California, two in Illinois, and one in Wisconsin. All of the positive mares in California (2) and Illinois (2) have completed their treatment and testing protocols and are now free of T. equigenitalis. All remaining positive horses, and all exposed horses that have been located, are currently under quarantine or hold order. Testing and treatment protocols are being implemented for all located horses. In addition to the four Kentucky stallions, the Texas stallion and all three Indiana stallions were resident in 2008 on the central Kentucky premises where the initial T. equigenitalis detection occurred. None of the positive stallions in Wisconsin have been on the Kentucky premises. The first Wisconsin stallion detected as positive for T. equigenitalis was co-located during the 2007 breeding season in Wisconsin with one of the three positive stallions currently in Indiana. That Indiana stallion was on the Kentucky premises in 2008. The second and third Wisconsin stallions were co-located with the first positive Wisconsin stallion during both the 2007 and 2008 breeding seasons in Wisconsin. The fourth Wisconsin stallion was co-located during the 2006 breeding season in Wisconsin with the third positive Wisconsin stallion and during the 2005 and 2006 breeding seasons with the Indiana stallion that was in Kentucky in 2008. The fifth positive Wisconsin stallion had semen collected on multiple occasions from 2004 to 2009 at the same premises in Wisconsin where the fourth positive Wisconsin stallion and all three positive Illinois stallions were collected in various years from 2004 to 2007. The sixth positive Wisconsin stallion had semen collected several times from 2004 to 2008 at the same Wisconsin premises as the fifth Wisconsin stallion. The seventh positive Wisconsin stallion had semen collected in at least three different breeding seasons at the same Wisconsin premises associated with six other positive stallions, including the fourth, fifth, and sixth positive Wisconsin stallions. The eighth Wisconsin positive stallion had semen collected several times from 2005 to 2008 at the same Wisconsin premises as the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh positive Wisconsin stallions; he was imported into the United States through a CEM quarantine facility in Florida as a 7-year-old. The positive stallion in Georgia was co-located during the 2008 breeding season in Wisconsin with the first, second, and third positive Wisconsin stallions. The first positive stallion in Illinois was co-located for periods of time during the 2004 and 2005 breeding seasons at the same premises in Wisconsin as the fourth positive Wisconsin stallion. The second and third positive stallions in Illinois reside on the same premises as the first Illinois stallion (and the positive Illinois mare). All three positive Illinois stallions were also collected at another premises in Illinois in 2007, and the first and third Illinois stallions were collected at that same Illinois premises in 2006. The positive gelding in Iowa was collected (as then a stallion) during the 2007 breeding season at the Wisconsin facility with which eight other positive stallions are known to have been associated. There are 30 States known to have exposed or positive stallions: Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. The exposure for most of the stallions has been co-location at a breeding facility with at least one positive stallion. Table 2 has more details on the status of all stallions that have been located to date. There are 46 States known to have exposed or positive mares; the only States without exposed or positive mares are Hawaii, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wyoming. The exposure for most of the mares has been through AI. Table 3 has more details on the locations and testing results of exposed mares. An exposed horse is one that was bred, either naturally or via artificial insemination, to a horse positive for T. equigenitalis, or one that is otherwise epidemiologically linked to a positive horse, as determined by State and Federal animal health officials. The USDA APHIS Hot Issues web link for CEM is: The USDA APHIS National Center for Import and Export (NCIE) International Animal Export Regulations web link is: www.aphis.usda.gov/regulations/vs/iregs/animals/. The NCIE has posted new requirements for both the temporary and the permanent entry into Mexico of horses from CEM-free States and horses from States with diagnosed CEM cases. The requirements can be found at: www.aphis.usda.gov/regulations/vs/iregs/animals/animal_mexico.shtml. B. Diagnostic Testing Summary NVSL has completed antibiotic susceptibility testing of Taylorella equigenitalis isolates from 18 positive stallions (one now a gelding), 4 positive test mares (representing 3 positive stallions), and 5 positive exposed mares. All isolates tested show the same antibiotic susceptibility profile: Amikacin disk - susceptible Gentamicin disk - susceptible The NVSL has also completed pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) on all of those isolates. All isolates showed the same PFGE banding pattern. The pattern for these isolates does not match any other isolates from the CEM culture library at the NVSL, including isolates from import quarantine stations and isolates from U.S. outbreaks in 1978 and 2006. Table 1. Status Summary for All Exposed Horses Table 2. Location and Testing Status of Exposed Stallions Table 3. Location and Testing Results of Exposed Mares ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES VETERINARY DIVISION NOTICE 2-09 6-23-2009 Vesicular Stomatitis (VS) Importation Requirements I. Purpose: This directive provides all parties interested in shipping livestock and equines into North Carolina with the specific guidelines that are hereby required by NCDA & CS. On June 12, 2009, the National Veterinary Services laboratory in Ames, Iowa confirmed vesicular stomatitis (VS) in a horse on a premises in Starr County, in far southwest Texas. This is the first confirmed case of VS in the United States in 2009; the last case of VS was confirmed in 2006. On June 23, 2009 NVSL confirmed an additional case in New Mexico. Past history suggests the likelihood of further outbreaks and there is a reasonable probability of other states identifying VS. The disease has potential to spread and produce severe economic consequences for the livestock and equine industries in North Carolina. This policy was developed with careful consideration to the overall health and safety of the entire North Carolina livestock industry. II. Cancellation: none III. References: 02 NCAC (North Carolina Administrative Code) 52B.0201 1) "Livestock" means any hoofed animal, to include bovines, sheep, goats, swine, 1) No livestock originating from a herd in any state which there has been a onfirmed diagnosis of VS will be allowed to enter North Carolina for a period of 90 days from the date of the last observation of clinical signs of VS within the herd. a) the animals are accompanied by an Official Certificate of Veterinary Inspection OCVI) issued be an accredited veterinarian within 7 days prior b) the OCVI must contain the statement, "I have examined these animals c) the animals have not received Vesicular Stomatitis vaccine nor been d) a permit number must be obtained prior to entry by contacting (919) 733- 7601 Dr. David Marshall ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES Please find attached the Veterinary Notice from the North Carolina State Veterinarian's Office in response to the notification of Vesicular Stomatitis in Texas. This will affect import requirements for animals coming to North Carolina from Texas as detailed in the Notice. VETERINARY DIVISION NOTICE 1-09 6-15-2009 Vesicular Stomatitis (VS) Importation Requirements I. Purpose: This directive provides all parties interested in shipping livestock and equines into North Carolina with the specific guidelines that are hereby required by NCDA & CS. On June 12, 2009, the National Veterinary Services laboratory in Ames, Iowa confirmed vesicular stomatitis (VS) in a horse on a premises in Starr County, in far southwest Texas. This is the first confirmed case of VS in the United States in 2009; the last case of VS was confirmed in 2006. The disease has potential to spread and produce severe economic consequences for the livestock and equine industries in North Carolina. This policy was developed with careful consideration to the overall health and safety of the entire North Carolina livestock industry. II. Cancellation: none III. References: 02 NCAC (North Carolina Administrative Code) 52B.0201 1) "Livestock" means any hoofed animal, to include bovines, sheep, goats, swine, V. Procedures: b) the OCVI must contain the statement, "I have examined these animals and found them to be free from clinical signs of VS. To my knowledge they have not been exposed to the disease within the previous 30 days;" c) the animals have not received Vesicular Stomatitis vaccine nor been exposed to an animal that has received VS vaccine within the past 30 days. d) a permit number must be obtained prior to entry by contacting (919) 733-7601 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TO: State Animal Health Officials, AVICs SUBJECT: FY 2009 CEM Incident Situation Report; Includes Data Reported Through COB June 16, 2009 A. Epidemiology Summary A total of 21 stallions, including one that is now a gelding, have been confirmed by USDA's National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) as positive for Taylorella equigenitalis, the causative organism of contagious equine metritis (CEM). The NVSL has also confirmed that five mares are positive for T. equigenitalis. None of the positive horses have yet been identified as the source of the outbreak; the epidemiologic investigation continues to pursue all available information relative to determining the origin of this outbreak, but no conclusions can yet be drawn. In addition to the 21 positive stallions and 5 positive mares, locations have been confirmed for 945 additional horses exposed to T. equigenitalis. The total of 971 horses, located in 48 States, includes 270 stallions and 701 mares. The only States that currently have no positive or exposed horses are Hawaii and Rhode Island. Of the 270 stallions, 95 (35.2 percent), including 85 exposed and 10 formerly positive, have now completed their entire testing and treatment protocol and are negative for T. equigenitalis (see Table 1). Another 105 exposed stallions have had at least one set of negative cultures prior to test breeding. Of the 701 mares, 537 (76.6 percent) have completed their testing and treatment protocol and are negative for T. equigenitalis (see Table 1). The 21 positive stallions have been found in 7 States: Georgia (1), Illinois (3), Indiana (3), Iowa (1), Kentucky (4), Texas (1), and Wisconsin (8). Ten of the positive stallions (3 in Indiana, 4 in Kentucky, 1 in Texas, 2 in Wisconsin) have successfully completed their treatment and subsequent testing protocol and are now free of T. equigenitalis. Of the five positive mares, two were found in California, two in Illinois, and one in Wisconsin. Both of the positive California mares have completed their treatment and testing protocols and are now free of T. equigenitalis. In addition to the four Kentucky stallions, the Texas stallion and all three Indiana stallions were resident in 2008 on the central Kentucky premises where the initial T. equigenitalis detection occurred. None of the positive stallions in Wisconsin have been on the Kentucky premises. The first Wisconsin stallion detected as positive for T. equigenitalis was co-located during the 2007 breeding season in Wisconsin with one of the three positive stallions currently in Indiana. That Indiana stallion was on the Kentucky premises in 2008. The second and third Wisconsin stallions were co-located with the first positive Wisconsin stallion during both the 2007 and 2008 breeding seasons in Wisconsin. The fourth Wisconsin stallion was co-located during the 2006 breeding season in Wisconsin with the third positive Wisconsin stallion and during the 2005 and 2006 breeding seasons with the Indiana stallion that was in Kentucky in 2008. The fifth positive Wisconsin stallion had semen collected on multiple occasions from 2004 to 2009 at the same premises in Wisconsin where the fourth positive Wisconsin stallion and all three positive Illinois stallions were collected in various years from 2004 to 2007. The sixth positive Wisconsin stallion had semen collected several times from 2004 to 2008 at the same Wisconsin premises as the fifth Wisconsin stallion. The seventh positive Wisconsin stallion had semen collected in at least three different breeding seasons at the same Wisconsin premises associated with six other positive stallions, including the fourth, fifth, and sixth positive Wisconsin stallions. The eighth Wisconsin positive stallion had semen collected several times from 2005 to 2008 at the same Wisconsin premises as the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh positive Wisconsin stallions; he was imported into the United States through a CEM quarantine facility in Florida as a 7-year-old. The positive stallion in Georgia was co-located during the 2008 breeding season in Wisconsin with the first, second, and third positive Wisconsin stallions. The first positive stallion in Illinois was co-located for periods of time during the 2004 and 2005 breeding seasons at the same premises in Wisconsin as the fourth positive Wisconsin stallion. The second and third positive stallions in Illinois reside on the same premises as the first Illinois stallion (and the positive Illinois mare). All three positive Illinois stallions were also collected at another premises in Illinois in 2007, and the first and third Illinois stallions were collected at that same Illinois premises in 2006. The positive gelding in Iowa was collected (as then a stallion) during the 2007 breeding season at the Wisconsin facility with which eight other positive stallions are known to have been associated. All positive horses, and all exposed horses that have been located, are currently under quarantine or hold order. Testing and treatment protocols are being put into action for all located horses. There are 30 States known to have exposed or positive stallions: Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. The exposure for most of the stallions has been co-location at a breeding facility with at least one positive stallion. Table 2 has more details on the status of all stallions that have been located to date. There are 46 States known to have exposed or positive mares; the only States without exposed or positive mares are Hawaii, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wyoming. The exposure for most of the mares has been through AI. Table 3 has more details on the locations and testing results of exposed mares. An exposed horse is one that was bred, either naturally or via artificial insemination, to a horse positive for T. equigenitalis, or one that is otherwise epidemiologically linked to a positive horse, as determined by State and Federal animal health officials. The USDA APHIS Hot Issues web link for CEM is: The USDA APHIS National Center for Import and Export (NCIE) International Animal Export Regulations web link is: www.aphis.usda.gov/regulations/vs/iregs/animals/. The NCIE has posted new requirements for both the temporary and the permanent entry into Mexico of horses from CEM-free States and horses from States with diagnosed CEM cases. The requirements can be found at: www.aphis.usda.gov/regulations/vs/iregs/animals/animal_mexico.shtml. B. Diagnostic Testing Summary NVSL has completed antibiotic susceptibility testing of Taylorella equigenitalis isolates from 18 positive stallions (one now a gelding), 4 positive test mares (representing 3 positive stallions), and 5 positive exposed mares. All isolates tested show the same antibiotic susceptibility profile: Amikacin disk - susceptible Gentamicin disk - susceptible The NVSL has also completed pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) on all of those isolates. All isolates showed the same PFGE banding pattern. The pattern for these isolates does not match any other isolates from the CEM culture library at the NVSL, including isolates from import quarantine stations and isolates from U.S. outbreaks in 1978 and 2006. Table 1. Status Summary for All Exposed Horses Table 2. Location and Testing Status of Exposed Stallions
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The following press release was just issued by the Missouri Department of Agriculture, Agriculture News For Immediate Release: Thursday, June 18, 2009 Media Contact: Misti Preston, (573) 751-8596 Department of Agriculture Has Notified State and Federal Officials of Two Piroplasmosis-Positive Horses Missing (JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.) -The Missouri Department of Agriculture has announced that two quarantined horses that tested positive for equine piroplasmosis are missing from a Raytown, Mo.equine center, located in JacksonCounty. Equine piroplasmosis is a bloodborne disease only transmitted to horses by ticks and mechanically from animal to animal by contaminated needles. On June 4, the Department of Agriculture was notified of a piroplasmosis-positive horse and immediately took action placing a quarantine on the RaytownEquineCenterand put all of the horses at the facility on 24 hour surveillance. The quarantine, enacted by the Missouri State Veterinarian, was put in place to prevent movement of any horses from the equine center. Two horses were illegally removed from the premises Wednesday night following locks being cut from building doors and stalls. These horses are micro-chipped. The Department is working with local, county and state officials as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation to locate the horses. "We continue to do everything we can to locate the two piroplasmosis-positive horses. Although this disease is not easily transmittable and does not affect humans, it is a disease that through ticks and contaminated needles can have a great impact on our horse industry," said Dr. Jon Hagler, director of the Department of Agriculture. "The Department of Agriculture is working with local, county, state and federal officials to do everything we can to find these horses. We are asking anyone that has seen anything suspicious to notify their local authorities." Seven horses tested positive for equine piroplasmosis on June 9. Today, with consent of the horse's owners, five piroplasmosis-positive horses were euthanized. An equine piroplasmosis-infected horse will show symptoms in mild forms such as weakness and lack of appetite. More acute cases include fever, anemia, jaundice, a swollen abdomen and labored breathing. Horses that survive the acute phase of infection may continue to carry the parasites for long periods of time. There is no cure for equine piroplasmosis. For more information, please contact the Missouri Department of Agriculture at (573) 751-3377. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Subject: Piroplasmosis in 2 missing Missouri horses Date: 6/22/09 The following was forwarded from Dr. David Marshall, State Veterinarian ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Please find attached the latest SitRep and CEM Chart courtesy of USDA. Notice the change in numbers - there are now 21 positive stallions. In North Carolina we have had another mare successfully complete the USDA testing and treatment protocol at the Equine Health Center in Southern Pines and has been released from quarantine; this negative mare would bring our numbers for the state to 8 mares and one stallion that have successfully completed the protocol and have been released from quarantine. Another mare has recently foaled and has scheduled to complete her testing and treatment by the end of the month. June 4, 2009 TO: State Animal Health Officials, AVICs SUBJECT: FY 2009 CEM Incident Situation Report; Includes Data Reported Through COB June 2, 2009 A. Epidemiology Summary A total of 21 stallions have been confirmed by USDA's National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) as positive for Taylorella equigenitalis, the causative organism of contagious equine metritis (CEM). The NVSL has also confirmed that five mares are positive for T. equigenitalis. None of the positive horses have yet been identified as the source of the outbreak; the epidemiologic investigation continues to pursue all available information relative to determining the origin of this outbreak, but no conclusions can yet be drawn. In addition to the 21 positive stallions and 5 positive mares, locations have been confirmed for 944 additional horses exposed to T. equigenitalis. The total of 970 horses, located in 48 States, includes 276 stallions and 694 mares. The only States that currently have no positive or exposed horses are Hawaii and Rhode Island. Of the 276 stallions, 76 (27.5 percent), including 67 exposed and 9 formerly positive, have now completed their entire testing and treatment protocol and are negative for T. equigenitalis (see Table 1). Another 106 exposed stallions have had at least one set of negative cultures prior to test breeding. Of the 694 mares, 478 (68.9 percent) have completed their testing and treatment protocol and are negative for T. equigenitalis (see Table 1). The 21 positive stallions have been found in 7 States: Georgia (1), Illinois (3), Indiana (3), Iowa (1), Kentucky (4), Texas (1), and Wisconsin (8). Nine of the positive stallions (3 in Indiana, 4 in Kentucky, 1 in Texas, 1 in Wisconsin) have successfully completed their treatment and subsequent testing protocol and are now free of T. equigenitalis. Of the five positive mares, two were found in California, two in Illinois, and one in Wisconsin. One of the positive California mares has completed her treatment and testing protocol and is now free of T. equigenitalis. In addition to the four Kentucky stallions, the Texas stallion and all three Indiana stallions were resident in 2008 on the central Kentucky premises where the initial T. equigenitalis detection occurred. None of the positive stallions in Wisconsin have been on the Kentucky premises. The first Wisconsin stallion detected as positive for T. equigenitalis was co-located during the 2007 breeding season in Wisconsin with one of the three positive stallions currently in Indiana. That Indiana stallion was on the Kentucky premises in 2008. The second and third Wisconsin stallions were co-located with the first positive Wisconsin stallion during both the 2007 and 2008 breeding seasons in Wisconsin. The fourth Wisconsin stallion was co-located during the 2006 breeding season in Wisconsin with the third positive Wisconsin stallion and during the 2005 and 2006 breeding seasons with the Indiana stallion that was in Kentucky in 2008. The fifth positive Wisconsin stallion had semen collected on multiple occasions from 2004 to 2009 at the same premises in Wisconsin where the fourth positive Wisconsin stallion and all three positive Illinois stallions were collected in various years from 2004 to 2007. The sixth positive Wisconsin stallion had semen collected several times from 2004 to 2008 at the same Wisconsin premises as the fifth Wisconsin stallion. The seventh positive Wisconsin stallion had semen collected in at least three different breeding seasons at the same Wisconsin premises associated with six other positive stallions, including the fourth, fifth, and sixth positive Wisconsin stallions. The eighth Wisconsin positive stallion had semen collected several times from 2005 to 2008 at the same Wisconsin premises as the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh positive Wisconsin stallions; he was imported into the United States through a CEM quarantine facility in Florida as a 7-year-old. The positive stallion in Georgia was co-located during the 2008 breeding season in Wisconsin with the first, second, and third positive Wisconsin stallions. The first positive stallion in Illinois was co-located for periods of time during the 2004 and 2005 breeding seasons at the same premises in Wisconsin as the fourth positive Wisconsin stallion. The second and third positive stallions in Illinois reside on the same premises as the first Illinois stallion (and the positive Illinois mare). All three positive Illinois stallions were also collected at another premises in Illinois in 2007, and the first and third Illinois stallions were collected at that same Illinois premises in 2006. The positive gelding in Iowa was collected (as then a stallion) during the 2007 breeding season at the Wisconsin facility with which eight other positive stallions are known to have been associated. All positive horses, and all exposed horses that have been located, are currently under quarantine or hold order. Testing and treatment protocols are being put into action for all located horses. There are 29 States known to have exposed or positive stallions: Alabama, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. The exposure for most of the stallions has been co-location at a breeding facility with at least one positive stallion. Table 2 has more details on the status of all stallions that have been located to date. There are 46 States known to have exposed or positive mares; the only States without exposed or positive mares are Hawaii, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wyoming. The exposure for most of the mares has been through AI. Table 3 has more details on the locations and testing results of exposed mares. An exposed horse is one that was bred, either naturally or via artificial insemination, to a horse positive for T. equigenitalis, or one that is otherwise epidemiologically linked to a positive horse, as determined by State and Federal animal health officials. The USDA APHIS Hot Issues web link for CEM is: The USDA APHIS National Center for Import and Export (NCIE) International Animal Export Regulations web link is: www.aphis.usda.gov/regulations/vs/iregs/animals/. The NCIE has posted new requirements for both the temporary and the permanent entry into Mexico of horses from CEM-free States and horses from States with diagnosed CEM cases. The requirements can be found at: www.aphis.usda.gov/regulations/vs/iregs/animals/animal_mexico.shtml B. Diagnostic Testing Summary NVSL has completed antibiotic susceptibility testing of Taylorella equigenitalis isolates from 17 positive stallions, 3 positive test mares (representing 2 positive stallions), and 5 positive exposed mares. Two isolates, one from a gelding and one from a positive test mare (representing one positive stallion), are currently pending susceptibility testing results. All isolates tested so far show the exact same profile: Amikacin disk - susceptible Gentamicin disk - susceptible Table 1. Status Summary for All Exposed Horses
Table 2. Location and Testing Status of Exposed Stallions ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ TO: State Animal Health Officials, AVICs SUBJECT: FY 2009 CEM Incident Situation Report; Includes Data Reported Through COB May 19, 2009 A. Epidemiology Summary A total of 19 stallions have been confirmed by USDA's National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) as positive for Taylorella equigenitalis, the causative organism of contagious equine metritis (CEM). The most recently detected positive stallion is an American Hackney located in Wisconsin, the seventh positive stallion in that State; he is only the second stallion in this incident to be detected as positive on test breeding. The NVSL has also confirmed that five mares are positive for T. equigenitalis. None of the positive horses have yet been identified as the source of the outbreak; the epidemiologic investigation continues to pursue all available information relative to determining the origin of this outbreak, but no conclusions can yet be drawn. In addition to the 19 positive stallions and 5 positive mares, locations have been confirmed for 904 additional horses exposed to T. equigenitalis. The total of 928 horses, located in 48 States, includes 270 stallions and 658 mares. The only States that currently have no positive or exposed horses are Hawaii and Rhode Island. Of the 270 stallions, 76 (28 percent), including 68 exposed and 8 formerly positive, have now completed their entire testing and treatment protocol and are negative for T. equigenitalis (see Table 1). Another 98 exposed stallions have had at least one set of negative cultures prior to test breeding. Of the 658 mares, 434 (66 percent) have completed their testing and treatment protocol and are negative for T. equigenitalis (see Table 1). The 19 positive stallions have been found in 6 States: Georgia (1), Illinois (3), Indiana (3), Kentucky (4), Texas (1), and Wisconsin (7). Eight of the positive stallions (3 in Indiana, 4 in Kentucky, 1 in Texas) have successfully completed their treatment and subsequent testing protocol and are now free of T. equigenitalis. Of the five positive mares, two were found in California, two in Illinois, and one in Wisconsin. One of the positive California mares has completed her treatment and testing protocol and is now free of T. equigenitalis. In addition to the four Kentucky stallions, the Texas stallion and all three Indiana stallions were resident in 2008 on the central Kentucky premises where the initial T. equigenitalis detection occurred. The seven positive Wisconsin stallions have not been on the Kentucky premises. The first Wisconsin stallion detected as positive for T. equigenitalis was co-located during the 2007 breeding season in Wisconsin with one of the three positive stallions currently in Indiana. That Indiana stallion was on the Kentucky premises in 2008. The second and third Wisconsin stallions were co-located with the first positive Wisconsin stallion during both the 2007 and 2008 breeding seasons in Wisconsin. The fourth Wisconsin stallion was co-located during the 2006 breeding season in Wisconsin with the third positive Wisconsin stallion and during the 2005 and 2006 breeding seasons with the Indiana stallion that was in Kentucky in 2008. The fifth positive Wisconsin stallion had semen collected on multiple occasions from 2004 to 2009 at the same premises in Wisconsin where the fourth positive Wisconsin stallion and all three positive Illinois stallions were collected in various years from 2004 to 2007. The sixth positive Wisconsin stallion had semen collected several times from 2004 to 2008 at the same Wisconsin premises as the fifth Wisconsin stallion. The seventh positive Wisconsin stallion had semen collected in at least three different breeding seasons at the same Wisconsin premises associated with six other positive stallions, including the fourth, fifth, and sixth positive Wisconsin stallions. The positive stallion in Georgia was co-located during the 2008 breeding season in Wisconsin with the first, second, and third positive Wisconsin stallions. The first positive stallion in Illinois was co-located for periods of time during the 2004 and 2005 breeding seasons at the same premises in Wisconsin as the fourth positive Wisconsin stallion. The second and third positive stallions in Illinois reside on the same premises as the first Illinois stallion (and the positive Illinois mare). All three positive Illinois stallions were also collected at another premises in Illinois in 2007, and the first and third Illinois stallions were collected at that same Illinois premises in 2006. The positive Wisconsin mare was bred by live cover to one of the positive stallions in Wisconsin. The first positive mare detected in Illinois was bred by artificial insemination (AI) in 2008 with fresh cooled semen from one of the positive stallions currently located in Indiana. The second positive mare detected in Illinois is on the same premises as the three positive Illinois stallions and was bred by AI in 2008 with cryopreserved semen collected in 2007 from the second positive Illinois stallion. Both positive California mares were bred by AI in 2008 with fresh cooled semen from the first positive stallion detected in Wisconsin. All positive horses, and all exposed horses that have been located, are currently under quarantine or hold order. Testing and treatment protocols are being put into action for all located horses. There are 29 States known to have exposed or positive stallions: Alabama, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. The exposure for most of the stallions has been co-location at a breeding facility with at least one positive stallion. There are currently 2 additional exposed stallions actively being traced. Table 2 has more details on the status of all stallions that have been located to date. There are 46 States known to have exposed or positive mares; the only States without exposed or positive mares are Hawaii, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wyoming. The exposure for most of the mares has been through AI. There are 16 additional exposed mares actively being traced. Table 3 has more details on the locations and testing results of exposed mares. An exposed horse is one that was bred, either naturally or via artificial insemination, to a horse positive for T. equigenitalis, or one that is otherwise epidemiologically linked to a positive horse, as determined by State and Federal animal health officials. The USDA APHIS Hot Issues web link for CEM is: The USDA APHIS National Center for Import and Export (NCIE) International Animal Export Regulations web link is: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/regulations/vs/iregs/animals/ B. Diagnostic Testing Summary NVSL has completed antibiotic susceptibility testing of Taylorella equigenitalis isolates from 18 positive stallions, from 2 positive test mares, and from 5 positive exposed mares. All isolates tested so far show the exact same profile: Amikacin disk - susceptible Table 1. Status Summary for All Exposed Horses
Table 2. Location and Testing Status of Exposed Stallions
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ May 14, 2009 TO: State Animal Health Officials, AVICs SUBJECT: FY 2009 CEM Incident Situation Report; Includes Data Reported Through COB May 12, 2009 A. Epidemiology Summary A total of 18 stallions have been confirmed by USDA's National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) as positive for Taylorella equigenitalis, the causative organism of contagious equine metritis (CEM). In addition to the positive stallions, the NVSL has confirmed that five mares are positive for T. equigenitalis. None of the positive horses have yet been identified as the source of the outbreak; the epidemiologic investigation continues to pursue all available information relative to determining the origin of this outbreak, but no conclusions can yet be drawn. In addition to the 18 positive stallions and 5 positive mares, locations have been confirmed for 897 additional horses exposed to T. equigenitalis. The total of 920 horses, located in 48 States, includes 262 stallions and 658 mares. The only States that currently have no positive or exposed horses are Hawaii and Rhode Island. Of the 262 stallions, 71 (63 exposed and 8 formerly positive) have completed their entire testing and treatment protocol and are negative for T. equigenitalis (see Table 1). Another 88 exposed stallions have had at least one set of negative cultures prior to test breeding. Of the 658 mares, 415 (63.1 percent) have completed their testing and treatment protocol and are negative for T. equigenitalis (see Table 1). One of the positive stallions is located in Georgia, three are in Illinois, three are in Indiana, four are in Kentucky, one is in Texas, and six are in Wisconsin. Eight of the 18 positive stallions (4 in Kentucky, 3 in Indiana, 1 in Texas) have successfully completed their treatment and subsequent testing protocol and are now free of T. equigenitalis. Of the five positive mares, two are located in California, two are in Illinois, and one is in Wisconsin. One of the positive mares in California has completed her treatment and testing protocol and is now free of T. equigenitalis. In addition to the four Kentucky stallions, the Texas stallion and all three Indiana stallions were resident in 2008 on the central Kentucky premises where the initial T. equigenitalis detection occurred. The six positive Wisconsin stallions have not been on the Kentucky premises. The first Wisconsin stallion detected as positive for T. equigenitalis was co-located during the 2007 breeding season in Wisconsin with one of the three positive stallions currently in Indiana. That Indiana stallion was on the Kentucky premises in 2008. The second and third Wisconsin stallions were co-located with the first positive Wisconsin stallion during both the 2007 and 2008 breeding seasons in Wisconsin. The fourth Wisconsin stallion was co-located during the 2006 breeding season in Wisconsin with the third positive Wisconsin stallion and during the 2005 and 2006 breeding seasons with the Indiana stallion that was in Kentucky in 2008. The fifth positive Wisconsin stallion had semen collected on multiple occasions from 2004 to 2009 at the same premises in Wisconsin where the fourth positive Wisconsin stallion and all three positive Illinois stallions were collected in various years from 2004 to 2007. The sixth positive Wisconsin stallion, the only Thoroughbred to be found positive, had semen collected several times from 2004 to 2008 at the same Wisconsin premises as the fifth Wisconsin stallion. The positive stallion in Georgia was co-located during the 2008 breeding season in Wisconsin with the first, second, and third positive Wisconsin stallions. The first positive stallion in Illinois, a Fjord horse imported in late 2000, was co-located for periods of time during the 2004 and 2005 breeding seasons at the same premises in Wisconsin as the fourth positive Wisconsin stallion. The second and third positive stallions in Illinois reside on the same premises as the first Illinois stallion (and the positive Illinois mare). All three positive Illinois stallions were also collected at another premises in Illinois in 2007, and the first and third Illinois stallions were collected at that same Illinois premises in 2006. The positive Wisconsin mare was bred by live cover to one of the positive stallions in Wisconsin. The first positive mare detected in Illinois was bred by artificial insemination (AI) in 2008 with fresh cooled semen from one of the positive stallions currently located in Indiana. The second positive mare detected in Illinois is on the same premises as the three positive Illinois stallions and was bred by AI in 2008 with cryopreserved semen collected in 2007 from the second positive Illinois stallion. Both positive California mares were bred by AI in 2008 with fresh cooled semen from the first positive stallion detected in Wisconsin. All positive horses, and all exposed horses that have been located, are currently under quarantine or hold order. Testing and treatment protocols are being put into action for all located horses. There are 29 States known to have exposed or positive stallions: Alabama, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. The exposure for most of the stallions has been co-location at a breeding facility with at least one positive stallion. There are currently 10 additional exposed stallions actively being traced. Table 2 has more details on the status of all stallions that have been located to date. There are 46 States known to have exposed or positive mares; the only States without exposed or positive mares are Hawaii, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wyoming. The exposure for most of the mares has been through AI. There are 11 additional exposed mares actively being traced. Table 3 has more details on the locations and testing results of exposed mares. An exposed horse is one that was bred, either naturally or via artificial insemination, to a horse positive for T. equigenitalis, or one that is otherwise epidemiologically linked to a positive horse, as determined by State and Federal animal health officials. The USDA APHIS National Center for Import and Export (NCIE) International Animal Export Regulations web link is: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/regulations/vs/iregs/animals/ B. Diagnostic Testing Summary NVSL has completed antibiotic susceptibility testing of Taylorella equigenitalis isolates from 17 positive stallions, from 2 positive test mares, and from 5 positive exposed mares. All isolates tested so far show the exact same profile: Amikacin disk - susceptible Table 1. Status Summary for All Exposed Horses
Table 2. Location and Testing Status of Exposed Stallions
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TO: State Animal Health Officials, AVICs SUBJECT: FY 2009 CEM Incident Situation Report; Includes Data Reported Through COB April 21, 2009 A. Epidemiology Summary A total of 18 stallions have been confirmed by USDA's National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) as positive for Taylorella equigenitalis, the causative organism of contagious equine metritis (CEM). In addition to the positive stallions, the NVSL has confirmed that five mares are positive for T. equigenitalis. None of the positive horses have yet been identified as the source of the outbreak; the epidemiologic investigation continues to pursue all available information relative to determining the origin of this outbreak, but no conclusions can yet be drawn. One of the positive stallions is located in Georgia, three are in Illinois, three are in Indiana, four are in Kentucky, one is in Texas, and six are in Wisconsin. Eight of the 18 positive stallions (4 in Kentucky, 3 in Indiana, 1 in Texas) have successfully completed their treatment and subsequent testing protocol and are now free of T. equigenitalis. Of the five positive mares, two are located in California, two are in Illinois, and one is in Wisconsin. None of the positive mares has yet completed the treatment and testing protocol. In addition to the four Kentucky stallions, the Texas stallion and all three Indiana stallions were resident in 2008 on the central Kentucky premises where the initial T. equigenitalis detection occurred. The six positive Wisconsin stallions have not been on the Kentucky premises. The first Wisconsin stallion detected as positive for T. equigenitalis was co-located during the 2007 breeding season in Wisconsin with one of the three positive stallions currently in Indiana. That Indiana stallion was on the Kentucky premises in 2008. The second and third Wisconsin stallions were co-located with the first positive Wisconsin stallion during both the 2007 and 2008 breeding seasons in Wisconsin. The fourth Wisconsin stallion was co-located during the 2006 breeding season in Wisconsin with the third positive Wisconsin stallion and during the 2005 and 2006 breeding seasons with the Indiana stallion that was in Kentucky in 2008. The fifth positive Wisconsin stallion had semen collected on multiple occasions from 2004 to 2009 at the same premises in Wisconsin where the fourth positive Wisconsin stallion and all three positive Illinois stallions were collected in various years from 2004 to 2007. The sixth positive Wisconsin stallion, the only Thoroughbred to be found positive, had semen collected several times from 2004 to 2008 at the same Wisconsin premises as the fifth Wisconsin stallion. The positive stallion in Georgia was co-located during the 2008 breeding season in Wisconsin with the first, second, and third positive Wisconsin stallions. The first positive stallion in Illinois, a Fjord horse imported in late 2000, was co-located for periods of time during the 2004 and 2005 breeding seasons at the same premises in Wisconsin as the fourth positive Wisconsin stallion. The second and third positive stallions in Illinois reside on the same premises as the first Illinois stallion (and the positive Illinois mare). All three positive Illinois stallions were also collected at another premises in Illinois in 2007, and the first and third Illinois stallions were collected at that same Illinois premises in 2006. The positive Wisconsin mare was bred by live cover to one of the positive stallions in Wisconsin. The first positive mare detected in Illinois was bred by artificial insemination (AI) in 2008 with fresh cooled semen from one of the positive stallions currently located in Indiana. The second positive mare detected in Illinois is on the same premises as the three positive Illinois stallions and was bred by AI in 2008 with cryopreserved semen collected in 2007 from the second positive Illinois stallion. Both positive California mares were bred by AI in 2008 with fresh cooled semen from the first positive stallion detected in Wisconsin. In addition to the 18 positive stallions and 5 positive mares, locations have been confirmed for 777 additional horses exposed to T. equigenitalis. The total of 800 horses, located in 48 States, includes 153 stallions and 647 mares. The only States that currently have no positive or exposed horses are Hawaii and Rhode Island. All positive horses, and all exposed horses that have been located, are currently under quarantine or hold order. Testing and treatment protocols are being put into action for all located horses. Of the 153 stallions, 38 (30 exposed and 8 formerly positive) have now completed their entire testing and treatment protocol and been determined to be negative for T. equigenitalis (see Table 1). Another 73 exposed stallions have had at least one set of negative cultures prior to test breeding. Of the 647 mares, 356 have completed their testing and treatment protocol and are negative for T. equigenitalis (see Table 1). There are 26 States known to have exposed or positive stallions: Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. The exposure for most of the stallions has been co-location at a breeding facility with at least one positive stallion. There are currently 125 additional exposed stallions actively being traced. Table 2 has more details on the status of all stallions that have been located to date. There are 45 States known to have exposed or positive mares; the only States without exposed or positive mares are Hawaii, Maryland, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wyoming. The exposure for most of the mares has been through AI. There are seven additional exposed mares still actively being traced. Table 3 has more details on the locations and testing results of exposed mares. An exposed horse is one that was bred, either naturally or via artificial insemination, to a horse positive for T. equigenitalis, or one that is otherwise epidemiologically linked to a positive horse, as determined by State and Federal animal health officials. The USDA APHIS National Center for Import and Export (NCIE) International Animal Export Regulations web link is: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/regulations/vs/iregs/animals/ B. Diagnostic Testing Summary NVSL has completed antibiotic susceptibility testing of Taylorella equigenitalis isolates from 18 positive stallions and from 5 positive mares. All isolates tested so far show the exact same profile: Amikacin disk - susceptible Table 1. Status Summary for All Exposed Horses
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- April 15, 2009 TO: State Animal Health Officials, AVICs SUBJECT: FY 2009 CEM Incident Situation Report; Includes Data Reported Through COB April 14, 2009 A. Epidemiology Summary A total of 18 stallions have been confirmed by USDA's National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) as positive for Taylorella equigenitalis, the causative organism of contagious equine metritis (CEM). In addition to the positive stallions, the NVSL has confirmed that five mares are positive for T. equigenitalis. None of the positive horses have yet been identified as the source of the outbreak; the epidemiologic investigation continues to pursue all available information relative to determining the origin of this outbreak, but no conclusions can yet be drawn. One of the positive stallions is located in Georgia, three are in Illinois, three are in Indiana, four are in Kentucky, one is in Texas, and six are in Wisconsin. Eight of the 18 positive stallions (4 in Kentucky, 3 in Indiana, 1 in Texas) have successfully completed their treatment and subsequent testing protocol and are now free of T. equigenitalis. Of the five positive mares, two are located in California, two are in Illinois, and one is in Wisconsin. None of the positive mares has yet completed the treatment and testing protocol. In addition to the four Kentucky stallions, the Texas stallion and all three Indiana stallions were resident in 2008 on the central Kentucky premises where the initial T. equigenitalis detection occurred. The six positive Wisconsin stallions have not been on the Kentucky premises. The first Wisconsin stallion detected as positive for T. equigenitalis was co-located during the 2007 breeding season in Wisconsin with one of the three positive stallions currently in Indiana. That Indiana stallion was on the Kentucky premises in 2008. The second and third Wisconsin stallions were co-located with the first positive Wisconsin stallion during both the 2007 and 2008 breeding seasons in Wisconsin. The fourth Wisconsin stallion was co-located during the 2006 breeding season in Wisconsin with the third positive Wisconsin stallion, and, at the same premises in Wisconsin, during the 2005 and 2006 breeding seasons with the Indiana stallion that was in Kentucky in 2008. The fifth positive Wisconsin stallion had semen collected on multiple occasions from 2004 to 2009 at the same premises in Wisconsin where the fourth positive Wisconsin stallion and all three positive Illinois stallions were collected in various years from 2004 to 2007. The sixth positive Wisconsin stallion, the first Thoroughbred to be found positive, had semen collected several times from 2004 to 2008 at the same Wisconsin premises as the fifth Wisconsin stallion. The positive stallion in Georgia was co-located during the 2008 breeding season in Wisconsin with the first, second, and third positive Wisconsin stallions. The first positive stallion in Illinois, a Fjord horse imported in late 2000, was co-located for periods of time during the 2004 and 2005 breeding seasons at the same premises in Wisconsin as the fourth positive Wisconsin stallion. The second and third positive stallions in Illinois reside on the same premises as the first Illinois stallion (and the positive Illinois mare). All three positive Illinois stallions were also collected at another premises in Illinois in 2007, and the first and third Illinois stallions were collected at that same Illinois premises in 2006. The positive Wisconsin mare was bred by live cover to one of the positive stallions in Wisconsin. The first positive mare detected in Illinois was bred by artificial insemination (AI) in 2008 with fresh cooled semen from one of the positive stallions currently located in Indiana. The second positive mare detected in Illinois was bred by AI in 2008 with cryopreserved semen collected in 2007 from the second positive Illinois stallion. Both positive California mares were bred by AI in 2008 with fresh cooled semen from the first positive stallion detected in Wisconsin. In addition to the 18 positive stallions and 5 positive mares, locations have been confirmed for 750 additional horses exposed to T. equigenitalis. The total of 773 horses, located in 47 States, includes 135 stallions and 638 mares. The only States that currently have no positive or exposed horses are Hawaii, Rhode Island, and Vermont. All positive horses, and all exposed horses that have been located, are currently under quarantine or hold order. Testing and treatment protocols are being put into action for all located horses. Of the 135 stallions, 34 (26 exposed and 8 formerly positive) have now completed their entire testing and treatment protocol and been determined to be negative for T. equigenitalis (see Table 1). Another 68 exposed stallions have had at least one set of negative cultures prior to test breeding. Of the 638 mares, 347 have completed their testing and treatment protocol and are negative for T. equigenitalis (see Table 1). There are 21 States known to have exposed or positive stallions: Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. The exposure for most of the stallions has been co-location at a breeding facility with at least one positive stallion. There are currently 129 additional exposed stallions (one is now a gelding) actively being traced. Table 2 has more details on the status of all stallions that have been located to date. There are 45 States known to have exposed or positive mares; the only States without exposed or positive mares are Hawaii, Maryland, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wyoming. The exposure for most of the mares has been through AI. There are 8 additional exposed mares still actively being traced. Table 3 has more details on the locations and testing results of exposed mares. An exposed horse is one that was bred, either naturally or via artificial insemination, to a horse positive for T. equigenitalis, or one that is otherwise epidemiologically linked to a positive horse, as determined by State and Federal animal health officials. The USDA APHIS National Center for Import and Export (NCIE) International Animal Export Regulations web link is: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/regulations/vs/iregs/animals/ B. Diagnostic Testing Summary NVSL has completed antibiotic susceptibility testing of Taylorella equigenitalis isolates from 17 positive stallions and from 5 positive mares. Testing of the isolate from the sixth positive Wisconsin stallion has not yet been completed. All isolates tested so far show the exact same profile: Amikacin disk - susceptible Table 1. Status Summary for All Exposed Horses
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Subject: FW: Action: CEM SitRep for 3.20.09; Chart Relationship of T. In addition to the USDA update you will find in the above attachments, here is a summary of events in North Carolina: North Carolina has three mares that have completed testing and treatment, declared free of CEM and have been released from quarantine. Our one stallion has finished test breeding the 2 test mares and all cultures have been negative; if the last set of cultures and the CF tests on the 2 mares remain negative the stallion will undergo the 5 consecutive days of treatment and should be released from quarantine around April 10, 2009. An additional mare is scheduled to begin the treatment and testing protocol on Monday, 3/23/09. One pregnant mare from NC has been transferred, under federal VS 1-27 seal, to Kentucky where she will foal out (part of that state's Breeders Incentive Fund program) and complete her quarantine testing & treatment protocol in that state. Another pregnant mare is waiting on post-foaling to begin the testing and treatment protocol required to be released from quarantine. All CEM exposed animals (NO "positives") traced to NC (1 stallion and 12 Please contact me with any questions or issues regarding the ongoing CEM situation at any of the below listed methods. Thanks. *** My address has changed, the new address is tom.ray@ncagr.gov . Please update your records! ***
TO: State Animal Health Officials, AVICs SUBJECT: FY 2009 CEM Incident Situation Report; Includes Data Reported Through COB March 19, 2009 A. Epidemiology Summary A total of 13 stallions have been confirmed by USDA's National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) as positive for Taylorella equigenitalis, the causative organism of contagious equine metritis (CEM). In addition to the positive stallions, the NVSL has confirmed that three mares are positive for T. equigenitalis. None of the positive horses have yet been identified as the source of the outbreak; the epidemiologic investigation continues to pursue all available information relative to determining the origin of this outbreak, but no conclusions can yet be drawn. One of the positive stallions is located in Georgia, three are in Indiana, four are in Kentucky, one is in Texas, and four are in Wisconsin. The Georgia stallion is the first in this incident to be detected as positive on test breeding; all 12 previous positive stallions were detected on culture prior to test breeding. Seven of the 13 positive stallions, 4 in Kentucky and 3 in Indiana, have successfully completed their treatment and subsequent testing protocol and are now free of T. equigenitalis. Of the three positive mares, one is located in California, one is in Illinois, and one is in Wisconsin. None of the positive mares has yet completed the treatment and testing protocol. The Texas stallion and all three Indiana stallions were resident in 2008 on the central Kentucky premises where the initial T. equigenitalis detection occurred, but the four positive Wisconsin stallions have not been on the Kentucky premises. The first Wisconsin stallion detected as positive for T. equigenitalis was imported from the Netherlands in late 2004 and was co-located during the 2007 breeding season in Wisconsin with one of the three positive stallions currently in Indiana. That Indiana stallion was on the Kentucky premises in 2008. The second and third Wisconsin stallions were co-located with the first positive Wisconsin stallion during both the 2007 and 2008 breeding seasons in Wisconsin. The fourth Wisconsin stallion was co-located during the 2006 breeding season in Wisconsin with the second and third positive Wisconsin stallions, and, at the same premises in Wisconsin, during the both 2005 and 2006 breeding seasons with one of the three the positive stallions currently in Indiana. The positive stallion in Georgia was co-located during the 2008 breeding season in Wisconsin with the first, second, and third positive Wisconsin stallions. The positive Wisconsin mare was bred by live cover to one of the positive stallions in Wisconsin. The positive Illinois mare was bred by artificial insemination (AI) in 2008 with semen from one of the positive stallions currently located in Indiana. The positive California mare was bred by AI in 2008 with semen from the first positive stallion detected in Wisconsin. In addition to the 13 positive stallions and 3 positive mares, locations have been confirmed for 695 additional horses exposed to T. equigenitalis. The total of 711 horses, located in 46 States, includes 112 stallions and 599 mares. There are 19 States known to have exposed or positive stallions: Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. The exposure for most of the stallions has been co-location at a breeding facility with at least one positive stallion. There are currently four (4) additional exposed stallions actively being traced. Table 1 has more details on the status of all stallions that have been located to date. There are 44 States known to have exposed or positive mares: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The exposure for most of the mares has been through AI. There are six additional exposed mares still actively being traced. Table 2 has more details on the locations and testing results of exposed mares. All positive horses, and all exposed horses that have been located, are currently under quarantine or hold order. Testing and treatment protocols are being put into action for all located horses. A total of 34 stallions (27 exposed and 7 formerly positive) have now completed their entire testing and treatment protocol and been determined to be negative for T. equigenitalis. Another 47 exposed stallions have had at least one set of negative cultures prior to test breeding. A total of 270 exposed mares have completed their testing and treatment protocol and are negative for T. equigenitalis. The USDA APHIS Hot Issues web link for CEM is: The USDA APHIS National Center for Import Center (NCIE) International Animal Export Regulations web link is: NVSL has completed antibiotic susceptibility testing of Taylorella equigenitalis isolates from the first 11 positive stallions and from 2 positive mares. The isolates from 1 positive mare and the 12th and 13th positive stallion are on test and complete results will be reported when available. All isolates tested so far show the exact same profile: Amikacin - susceptible ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- March 4, 2009 TO: State Animal Health Officials, AVICs SUBJECT: FY 2009 CEM Incident Situation Report; Includes Data Reported Through COB March 4, 2009 A. Epidemiology Summary A total of 12 stallions have been confirmed by USDA's National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) as positive for Taylorella equigenitalis, the causative organism of contagious equine metritis (CEM). In addition to the positive stallions, the NVSL has confirmed that three mares have CEM. Three of the positive stallions are located in Indiana, four are in Kentucky, one is in Texas, and four are in Wisconsin. One of the positive mares is located in California, one is in Illinois, and one is in Wisconsin. None of the positive horses have yet been identified as the source of the outbreak; the epidemiologic investigation continues to pursue all available information relative to determining the origin of this outbreak, but no conclusions can yet be drawn. The Texas stallion and all three Indiana stallions were resident in 2008 on the central Kentucky premises where the initial T. equigenitalis detection occurred, but the four positive Wisconsin stallions have not been on the Kentucky premises. The first Wisconsin stallion detected as positive for T. equigenitalis was imported from the Netherlands in late 2004 and was co-located during the 2007 breeding season in Wisconsin with one of the three positive stallions currently in Indiana. That Indiana stallion was on the Kentucky premises in 2008. The second and third Wisconsin stallions were co-located on the same premises as the first positive Wisconsin stallion during both the 2007 and 2008 breeding seasons. The fourth Wisconsin stallion was co-located during the 2005 and 2006 breeding seasons in Wisconsin with two known positive stallions (one of the positive stallions currently in Wisconsin and one of the positive stallions currently in Indiana). The positive Wisconsin mare was bred by live cover to one of the positive stallions in Wisconsin. The positive Illinois mare was bred by artificial insemination (AI) in 2008 with semen from one of the positive stallions currently located in Indiana. The positive California mare was bred by AI in 2008 with semen from the first positive stallion detected in Wisconsin. In addition to the 12 positive stallions and 3 positive mares, locations have been confirmed for 608 additional horses exposed to T. equigenitalis. The total of 623 horses, located in 45 States, includes 86 stallions and 537 mares. There are 17 States known to have exposed or positive stallions: Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. The exposure for most of the stallions has been co-location at a breeding facility with at least one positive stallion. Table 1 has more details on the status of all stallions that have been located to date. There are 44 States known to have exposed or positive mares: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The exposure for most of the mares has been through AI. There is one additional exposed mare still actively being traced. Table 2 has more details on the locations and testing results of exposed mares. All positive horses, and all exposed horses that have been located, are currently under quarantine or hold order. Testing and treatment protocols are being put into action for all located horses. Eleven exposed stallions have now completed their entire testing and treatment protocol and been determined to be negative for T. equigenitalis, and another 52 exposed stallions have had at least one set of negative cultures prior to test breeding. A total of 191 exposed mares have completed their testing and treatment protocol and are negative for T. equigenitalis. At least another 251 exposed mares are pregnant and will not complete their protocols until after foaling. The USDA APHIS Hot Issues web link for CEM is: The USDA APHIS National Center for Import Center (NCIE) International Animal Export Regulations web link is: B. Diagnostic Testing Summary NVSL has completed antibiotic susceptibility testing of Taylorella equigenitalis isolates from the first 11 positive stallions and from 2 positive mares. The isolates from 1 positive mare and the 12th positive stallion are on test and complete results will be reported when available. All isolates tested so far show the exact same profile: Amikacin - susceptible Table 1. Location and Testing Status of Stallions
To: AHC Member Organizations From: American Horse Council Date: February 25, 2009 Re: Equine Piroplasmosis Eradicated From Florida, Canadian Restrictions Lifted The Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson announced that the last premises that was determined to have horses infected with Equine Piroplasmosis (EP) has now been released from quarantine, concluding the disease outbreak investigation. The disease investigation began in August 2008 when a horse was diagnosed with EP, a blood-borne parasitic disease of horses that is primarily transmitted by ticks or contaminated needles. EP is a foreign animal disease that the U.S. has been free of since the 1980s, until this outbreak. During the disease investigation, 25 premises were quarantined and 201 horses were tested for the disease. Out of the 201 tested horses, a total of 20 horses on 7 premises tested positive for EP, although the majority of the horses did not show any symptoms. Currently no horses testing positive for the disease remain in Florida. All premises have now been released from quarantine, having met the requirements that all horses must test negative for EP, no exotic ticks are found on the premises, and no domestic ticks determined to be infected with the EP organism are found. Despite extensive tick surveillance, no ticks that carried the disease were found, concluding that the disease was spread due to management practices through contaminated needles or blood transfusion rather than natural transmission via ticks. Now that the last quarantine has been released, Florida and the U.S. are considered free of the EP disease. Since being notified of the conclusion of this disease investigation, Canada has released all additional export requirements related to EP for horses from Florida, which were the only increased export requirements in place because of this EP outbreak. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To: AHC Member Organizations From: American Horse Council Date: February 25, 2009 Re: Contagious Equine Metritis Outbreak - Overview and Update In December 2008, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture announced that a Quarter Horse stallion tested positive for Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM) during routine testing for international semen shipment. Since this discovery a full epidemiological investigation has been underway to locate, test and quarantine any potentially exposed horses. Currently a total of 11 stallions have been confirmed positive for CEM, four located in Kentucky, three in Indiana, three in Wisconsin and one in Texas. The Indiana and Texas stallions spent time on the central Kentucky premises during the 2008 breeding season. The Wisconsin stallions were not in Kentucky, but all were co-located during at least one breeding season in Wisconsin with one of the CEM-positive stallions that was on the Kentucky premises in 2008. Additionally three mares have been confirmed positive, one in California, one in Illinois and one in Wisconsin. The positive Wisconsin mare was bred by live cover to one of the CEM-positive stallions in Wisconsin, just prior to it becoming known that the stallion had been exposed to CEM. The positive mares in Illinois and California were each bred by artificial insemination with semen from a positive stallion, but not from the same stallion. In addition to the 11 positive stallions and 3 positive mares, the locations of 600 CEM-exposed horses have also been confirmed. The total of 614 horses includes 84 stallions and 530 mares located in 45 States. The 84 positive or exposed stallions are located in 16 States, and the 530 positive or exposed mares are in 44 States. There are nine CEM-exposed horse still actively being traced, eight mares and one stallion. The United States Department of Agriculture continues to fund the testing directly associated with this disease investigation. USDA is funding the diagnostic tests and sample shipping costs for the testing of any exposed horses directly linked to the investigation. An exposed horse is one that was bred to a CEM-positive horse, either naturally or via artificial insemination, or one that is otherwise epidemiologically linked to a CEM-positive horse, as determined by State and Federal animal health officials. What is CEM? Contagious Equine Metritis is a transmissible, exotic venereal disease in horses caused by a bacteria Taylorella equigenitalis. A CEM infection usually results in infertility in mares and, on rare occasions, can cause mares to spontaneously abort. Infected stallions exhibit no clinical signs. Stallions and mares can become chronic carriers of CEM and be sources of infection for future outbreaks. The transmission rate is high and naturally occurs by mating, but contaminated instruments and equipment may be an indirect source of infecting horses. The bacteria can also be spread via semen collected for artificial insemination. CEM can be treated with disinfectants and antibiotics. CEM-positive mares, and mares from CEM-positive countries, are required to go through a treatment protocol and remain in quarantine for no less than 21 days. Stallions that have CEM or come from a CEM-positive country are required to remain quarantined until a treatment protocol is completed and they test negative for the disease. Canadian Restrictions Because of this CEM outbreak, Canada has imposed additional restrictions on horse imports from the U.S. into Canada. Additional certification for horses (including Canadian horses returning to Canada but excluding horses for immediate slaughter) will be required on all U.S. export health certificates issued after January 19, 2009 and for Canadian horses exported to the U.S. after January 19, 2009 and returning on a Canadian health certificate. The new certification statements are reflected in point 4 and 5 of the protocol. At the present moment, the import permit for the U.S. origin horses is not required, except for the horses from Florida where it is still required because of the recent Equine Piroplasmosis situation. Points 4 and 5 of the protocol read as follows: 4. The horse(s) have not been on premises where T. equigenitalis has been isolated during the 60 days immediately preceding exportation to Canada or a premises currently under quarantine or investigation for CEM. Any female(s) in the shipment have not been bred naturally to, or inseminated with, semen from a stallion positive for CEM, or a stallion resident upon a positive premises or under quarantine or investigation for CEM 5. Showed no clinical signs of CEM on the day of inspection. Additionally, for Canadian horses returning to Canada on a Canadian health certificate, a supplemental certification document with the above mentioned requirements will be provided by the CFIA endorsing office when advised of intended return. The supplemental certification will need to be attached to the Canadian health certificate after completion and endorsed by USDA before return of the horse(s) to Canada. The health certificate for equine semen that is exported from the U.S. to Canada now includes the required certification that: 1. The donor horse(s) have not been on a premises where T. equigenitalis has been isolated during the 60 days immediately preceding collection of the semen for export to Canada or a premises currently under quarantine or investigation for CEM. 2. The semen was processed using an extender that contains antibiotics effective against T. equigenitalis. The health certificate for equine embryos that are exported from the U.S. to Canada now contains the following statement certifying that: 1. The donor mare(s) have not been on a premises where T. equigenitalis has been isolated during the 60 days immediately preceding the collection of the embryo(s) for export to Canada or a premises currently under quarantine or investigation for CEM and have not been bred naturally or inseminated with semen from a stallion positive for CEM, or a stallion resident upon a positive premises or under quarantine or investigation for CEM. 2. The flushing medium used to collect the embryo(s) contains antibiotics effective against T. equigenitalis. The Canadian requirements can be found on the following website: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/regulations/vs/iregs/animals/animal_canada2.shtml The American Horse Council will continue to monitor this outbreak closely as the investigation continues. We will continue to remain in close contact with USDA regarding the implementation of the investigation, the procedures supplied to the states involved, the funding of the outbreak investigation and control, and any additional foreign export restrictions or requirements. Please contact us with any questions. One very dramatic development is that for the first time there has been a documented case of a mare infected with CEM from Artificial Insemination from a positive stallion. Exposure that led to the infection was through AI of chilled semen that contained three antibiotics that are on the list from NVSL of antibiotics that the CEM organism has been reported to be sensitive to or should have been effective against the organism. For NC the updates would include: Of the 12 exposed mares, all 12 are in quarantine Of the 12 mares, 3 are currently in the testing and/or treatment phase and all cultures and tests have been negative Of the 12 mares, 1 is scheduled to begin the testing and treatment protocol following foaling The one exposed stallion (NOT positive) is beginning the testing and treatment protocol this week (contrary to what is in this update) We will provide further updates as they become available. Thanks. February 11, 2009 TO: State Animal Health Officials, AVICs SUBJECT: FY 2009 CEM Incident Situation Report; Includes Data Reported by COB February 9, 2009 A. Epidemiology Summary A total of 11 stallions have been confirmed by USDA's National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) as positive for Taylorella equigenitalis, the causative organism of contagious equine metritis (CEM). In addition to the positive stallions, the NVSL has confirmed that two mares have CEM. Three of the positive stallions are located in Indiana, four are in Kentucky, one is in Texas, and three are in Wisconsin. One positive mare is located in Wisconsin and one is in Illinois. None of the positive horses have yet been identified as the source of the outbreak; the epidemiologic investigation continues to pursue all available information relative to determining the origin of this outbreak, but no conclusions can yet be drawn. The Texas stallion and all three Indiana stallions were resident in 2008 on the central Kentucky premises where the initial T. equigenitalis detection occurred, but the three positive Wisconsin stallions have not been on the Kentucky premises. The first Wisconsin stallion detected as positive for T. equigenitalis was imported from the Netherlands in late 2004 and was co-located during the 2007 breeding season in Wisconsin with one of the three positive stallions currently in Indiana. The second and third Wisconsin stallions were co-located on the same premises as the first positive Wisconsin stallion during both the 2007 and 2008 breeding seasons. The positive Wisconsin mare was bred by live cover to one of the positive stallions in Wisconsin. The positive Illinois mare was bred by artificial insemination (AI) in 2008 with semen from one of the positive stallions currently located in Indiana. In addition to the 11 positive stallions and 2 positive mares, locations have been confirmed for 562 additional horses exposed to T. equigenitalis. The total of 575 horses includes 70 stallions and 505 mares located in 45 States. There are 14 States known to have positive or exposed stallions: Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. The exposure for most of the stallions has been co-location at a breeding facility with at least one positive stallion. There are 14 additional exposed stallions still actively being traced. Table 1 has more details on the status of all stallions that have been located to date. There are 43 States known to have positive or exposed mares: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The exposure for most of the mares has been through AI. There are 19 additional exposed mares still actively being traced. Table 2 has more details on the locations and testing results of exposed mares. All positive horses, and all exposed horses that have been located, are currently under quarantine or hold order. Testing and treatment protocols are being put into action for all located horses. Two stallions have now completed their entire testing and treatment protocol and been determined to be negative for T. equigenitalis, and another 36 stallions have had at least one set of negative cultures prior to test breeding. A total of 40 mares have completed the testing and treatment protocol for exposed mares and are negative for T. equigenitalis. At least 229 exposed mares are pregnant and will not complete their protocols until after foaling. The USDA APHIS Hot Issues web link for CEM is: The USDA APHIS National Center for Import Center (NCIE) International Animal Export Regulations web link is: B. Diagnostic Testing Summary NVSL has completed antibiotic susceptibility testing of Taylorella equigenitalis isolates from the 11 positive stallions (see table below). The most recent positive mare is on test and results will be reported when available. Nitrofurantoin is the only nitrofuran tested as we have not been able to find nitrofurazone disks. All isolates tested so far show the exact same profile. Stallions tested: Potential Investment, Zips Heaven Sent, Gentlemen Send Roses, Invited Back, Indian Artifacts, Hot Lupin Sensation, Repeated in Red, Nanning 374, Potential Asset, LT Kids Got Style, and Huntin an Investment. All isolates tested so far show the exact same profile. Sulfadiazine - susceptible NVSL currently uses a Real Time PCR assay and 16s rDNA sequencing to confirm, identify and differentiate between T. equigenitalis and T. asinigenitalis. There are a handful of articles in the literature that touch on molecular genotyping of Taylorella, mostly focused on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and pulse-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Prior to this investigation, NVSL had started to implement the use of PFGE for differentiating strains within species, however, this work is still in development. NVSL has contacted the two other CEM reference labs (The Netherlands and The United Kingdom) to discuss other developed methods for Taylorella. NVSL is continuing to explore methods for molecular genotyping and currently are discussing the best approach with the other reference labs. APHIS is obviously interested in all of the positive isolates from this investigation for this developmental work and it is a top priority for NVSL.
(This question was submitted by Mrs. Cathy Heaton, a member of the North Carolina Arabian Horse Association. Would you like to ask a question and see your question answered in our next newsletter? You can submit your question to: suegray@nchorsecouncil.com) Probiotics, also known as direct-fed microbial or DFMs, are dietary supplements containing live naturally occurring microorganisms (bacteria, fungi and/or yeast). The microorganisms are intended to arrive alive in the hindgut (the part of the digestive tract that comes after the small intestine), establish residence and do good things. The concept of probiotics originated about 100 years ago when a Nobel Prize winning scientist suggested that beneficial bacteria from yogurt could colonize the gut, displacing pathogenic (disease-causing) bacteria and extend the life of the yogurt eaters! Indeed, the lactobacillus bacteria, like those found in yogurt, are still the most popular probiotic species. In addition to displacing pathogens, probiotics may help regulate the conditions in the horse's gut tract. The grass and legumes in your horse's diet are mostly made up fiber. Horses cannot digest fiber and, instead, rely on the microorganisms that live in their hind gut to breakdown the cellulose and convert it to volatile fatty acids which can be absorbed and used by the horse for energy. Probiotics may promote conditions that favor the growth of fiber digesting microbes, allowing the horse to extract more energy from his diet. The microorganisms in probiotics produce various compounds as part of their life processes. These include organic acids, vitamins, amino acids, enzymes and antibiotics. All of these by-products end up in the material they are grown (fermented) in. This fermentation product is part of the probiotic supplement. With certain less hardy species, the fermentation product with dead microbes may be sold as a supplement. Technically, this is not a probiotic. Performance horses are in a state of stress from exercise, from transport, and, often, from their diet which is relatively high in grain and low in fiber. These factors can affect the fermentation process and also render the horse more susceptible to gut pathogens. There are well over 100 DFM's listed for horses in the "Direct-Fed Microbial, Enzymes & Forage Additive Compendium." Most have no objective research to support their use. The FDA puts DFM's in a class called "generally recognized as safe" or GRAS. This designation means the FDA believes these products cause no harm. It does not mean they do any good. DFM's cannot legally claim to treat any disease or condition, establish viable colonies in the gut, or affect any structure or function of the animal. The potential for benefit from feeding probiotics to performance horses certainly exists, but hard evidence is in short supply. There is not much economic incentive for the DFM suppliers to fund research, since they can sell their products based on customer testimonials and data from other species. This type of research on existing microorganisms would almost certainly have to be funded by horse owners. John E. Thomson, Ph.D., PAS |
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