Contagious equine metritis,
United States of America

Information received on 17/12/2008 from Dr John Clifford, Deputy Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, United States of America

Summary

Report type Immediate notification
Start date 10/12/2008
Date of first confirmation of the event 15/12/2008
Report date 16/12/2008
Date submitted to OIE 17/12/2008
Reason for notification Reoccurrence of a listed disease
Date of previous occurrence 30/12/2006
Manifestation of disease Sub-clinical infection
Causal agent Taylorella equigenitalis
Nature of diagnosis Laboratory (advanced)
This event pertains to a defined zone within the country
Related reports

New outbreaks
Outbreak 1 Woodford County, Woodford, KENTUCKY
Date of start of the outbreak 10/12/2008
Outbreak status Continuing (or date resolved not provided)
Epidemiological unit Farm
Affected animals
Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Destroyed Slaughtered
Equidae 393 9 0 0 0
Affected Population Taylorella equigenitalis, the bacterium that causes contagious equine metritis, was initially identified during routine testing of a stallion for export of semen. A 16-year-old Quarter Horse stallion was confirmed culture positive by the USDA APHIS VS National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) for Taylorella equigenitalis. The affected index premises is an equine reproduction facility. To date, all confirmed Taylorella equigenitalis positive stallions and the associated mare related to the outbreak in the State of Kentucky are either of the Paint or Quarter Horse breed. All nine positive Taylorella equigenitalis animals epidemiologically linked to this premises have completed their entire testing and treatment protocol and have been determined to be negative for Taylorella equigenitalis.
Summary of outbreaks Total outbreaks: 1
Outbreak statistics
Species Apparent morbidity rate Apparent mortality rate Apparent case fatality rate Proportion susceptible animals lost*
Equidae 2.29% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%

* Removed from the susceptible population through death, destruction and/or slaughter

Epidemiology
Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection
  • Unknown or inconclusive
Epidemiological comments A comprehensive epidemiological investigation is being conducted by Kentucky Department of Agriculture and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) officials.
• The epidemiological investigation is tracing all shipments of semen from the affected stallion and all horses which visited the affected premises since the arrival of the positive stallion.
• Numbers reported for susceptible horses are preliminary and subject to change as the investigation continues.

Control measures
Measures applied
  • Quarantine
  • No vaccination
  • Treatment of affected animals (Treatment of the affected stallion has begun.)
Measures to be applied
  • No other measures

Diagnostic test results
Laboratory name and type National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) (National laboratory)
Tests and results
Species Test Test date Result
Equidae pathogenic agent isolation on culture 15/12/2008 Positive

Future Reporting
The event is continuing. Weekly follow-up reports will be submitted.

Map of outbreak locations
Location of current outbreaks

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