January 12, 2009
Please find below a summary/update from the U.S. Animal Health Association on the CEM situation around the country as well as the import requirements that the state of Kentucky has placed on exposed horses. At times the numbers in the article become a bit confusing, but a summary (of the summary) is that:
- out of a total of 22 stallions there are currently a total of 7 positive stallions, 4 in Kentucky and 3 in Indiana; 15 stallions have yet to finish CEM testing to know their status as positive or negative
- there are 105 exposed mares quarantined in 29 states, Ky + 28 other states
- there are traces to a total of around 250 additional mares to a total of 38 states (as the other stallions finish their testing, any "positives" will expose more mares out of this "around 250" number).
To update everyone on NC's situation in particular: as of January 8, 2009, we have eight mares quarantined on seven premises (two mares on one premise) scattered across the state. All 22 stallions that were exposed at the original, index breeding facility in Kentucky have been located and quarantined; none of the 22 stallions are in North Carolina.
Also, you will find attached a video from TheHorse.com with Dr. Peter Timoney from the Gluck Equine Research Center in Kentucky that provides an excellent overview of CEM; my apologies to those of you who have already seen this. Please let me know if there are any issues or questions that arise from this information or any other news you hear.
The update can be found below.
USAHA News Alert Summaries - January 7, 2009
CEM investigation involves all but 12 states
DVM Newsmagazine
January 6, 2009
Four confirmed cases of contagious equine metritis (CEM) in Kentucky last month triggered an investigation that so far involves all but 12 states, according to the USDA's Animal and Plant Health inspection Service (APHIS).
CEM is a highly contagious venereal disease, restricted to the reproduction tract of mares, that usually causes temporary infertility. It is transmitted either during breeding or through artificial insemination.
The first case was confirmed in a quarter horse stallion on a central Kentucky premises on Dec. 15 during routine testing before a semen shipment to Canada. Three more stallions on that property soon after tested positive, as did three Indiana stallions that spent time on the Kentucky property in 2008. There are now six other exposed stallions and 22 exposed mares in Kentucky, for a total of 32 in that state that are either CEM positive or exposed, APHIS reports. Testing was done at USDA's National Veterinary Services Laboratories.
An exposed horse is one that was on the index premises in Kentucky or one that was bred to a CEM-positive horse, either naturally or via artificial insemination.
Outside Kentucky, 92 exposed horses plus three positive stallions have been confirmed. That total includes 12 stallions and 83 mares in 28 different states. All the positive horses and all exposed horses that have been located are under quarantine or hold order, and testing and treatment protocols are being implemented, APHIS says.
At least 250 additional horses are being traced, with owners located in 38 states, leaving only 12 states with no involvement so far, APHIS says.
Full text: http://tinyurl.com/8lbyy6
Kentucky Dept. of Agriculture: Entry of CEM Exposed and At Risk Mares
Kentucky Department of Agriculture
A Consumer Protection and Service Agency
MEMORANDUM
TO: State Animal Health Officials
FROM: Robert C. Stout, DVM
State Veterinarian/Executive Director
DATE: January 6, 2009
SUBJECT: Entry of CEM Exposed and At Risk Mares
Pursuant to KRS 257.030(2) and 302 KAR 20:040(1)(4) and effective 6 January 2009, until rescinded, the following conditions shall apply to
CEM exposed and at risk mares and shall be met prior to entry into Kentucky.
Exposed and At-Risk Mares
- An exposed mare is defined as a mare that was bred, either by natural service or by artificial insemination, to a stallion known to be infected with CEM.
- An at-risk mare is defined as a mare that has been bred, either by natural service or by artificial insemination, to a CEM exposed stallion whose disease status has not yet been determined.
- An exposed or at-risk mare shall enter Kentucky to a premises approved by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Office of the State Veterinarian. Call (502)564-3956 for an application.
- An exposed or at-risk mare shall be restricted to entry as documented on USDA form 1-27 and subject to provisions therein.
- A non-pregnant exposed or at-risk mare that has completed all testing with negative results may enter Kentucky unrestricted with a CVI, negative EIA, and documentation of negative CEM results.
Open Mares
A non-pregnant exposed or at-risk mare shall complete the following protocol:
- Negative CF blood
- Three sets of cultures for CEM collected at intervals of at least three days over a 12 day period (for example days 1, 4, 7). These cultures shall include the clitoral sinus and fossa in each set and the cervix or endometrium on one set.
- Be treated for five consecutive days using the following protocol:
MANUALLY REMOVE ALL ORGANIC DEBRIS FROM THE CLITORAL SINUSES AND FLUSH THEM WITH AN APPROVED CERUMINOLYTIC AGENT i.e. H2O2. FOLLOWING THE CLEANING AND FLUSHING OF THE SINUSES ASEPTICALLY CLEAN AND WASH (SCRUB) THE EXTERNAL GENITALIA AND VAGINAL VESTIBULE, INCLUDING THE CLITORAL FOSSA, WITH A SOLUTION OF NOT LESS THAN 2% CHLORHEXIDINE IN A DETERGENT BASE AND THEN FILL (PACK) THE CLITORAL FOSSA AND SINUSES AND COAT THE VAGINAL VESTIBULE WITH AN ANTIBIOTIC OINTMENT EFFECTIVE AGAINST THE CEM ORGANISM.
Nitrofurazone for Packing would be acceptable.
Pregnant Mares
A pregnant exposed or at-risk mare shall complete the following protocol:
- Negative CF blood
- Three sets of cultures for CEM collected at intervals of at least three days over a 12 day period (for example days 1, 4, 7). These cultures shall include the clitoral sinus and fossa in each set.
- Be treated for five consecutive days using the following protocol:
MANUALLY REMOVE ALL ORGANIC DEBRIS FROM THE CLITORAL SINUSES AND FLUSH THEM WITH AN APPROVED CERUMINOLYTIC AGENT i.e. H2O2,. FOLLOWING THE CLEANING AND FLUSHING OF THE SINUSES ASEPTICALLY CLEAN AND WASH (SCRUB) THE EXTERNAL GENITALIA AND VAGINAL VESTIBULE, INCLUDING THE CLITORAL FOSSA, WITH A SOLUTION OF NOT LESS THAN 2% CHLORHEXIDINE IN A DETERGENT BASE AND THEN FILL (PACK) THE CLITORAL FOSSA AND SINUSES AND COAT THE VAGINAL VESTIBULE WITH AN ANTIBIOTIC OINTMENT EFFECTIVE AGAINST THE CEM ORGANISM.
Nitrofurazone for Packing would be acceptable.
- An endometrial CEM culture shall be collected at the Kentucky premises within 72 hours post-foaling.
- Exception to the above restrictions due to extreme circumstances shall be determined by the Kentucky State Veterinarian.
WHEN ALL TESTING IS COMPLETED WITH NEGATIVE RESULTS, THE MARE WILL BE RELEASED FROM QUARANTINE. THESE REQUIREMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.
June 19, 2007
What probiotics are recommended for performance horses and do they work?
(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
Nutritionist & Procurement Manager
Wilson Milling LLC
