American Horse Council Press Release
Contact: American Horse Council
AHC@horsecouncil.org

 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 13, 2006

U.S. CEM Status – Japan and Republic of South Africa Import Restrictions

In October 2006, two Lipizzaner Stallions in the state of Wisconsin were found to be positive for Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM). The horses were imported two years ago from Slovakia, and are held at a farm in Wisconsin where they have remained since importation. This farm is a research facility; the stallions have been regularly collected but never bred, and the semen has never been shipped off of the premises.

The facility veterinarian discovered this during routine breeding soundness exams of the stallions. The farm was put under quarantine, under which it currently remains, and the process of testing all horses on the premises, finding and destroying any and all infected semen, and conducting a traceback of any horses that might have had contact with these two stallions is under way. The test mares originally used upon importation of the stallions have been cleared and have tested negative for CEM. The two infected stallions will begin treatment.

The USDA reported this case to the OIE (World Organization for Animal Heath) on October 16th and has been in touch with animal health officials around the world concerning the CEM status of the U.S. Japan has announced some restrictions on the importation of horses from the U.S. but has agreed to allow the import of race horses for temporary admission with the following certification statement: "Race horses originate from premises free from CEM for the last 60 days." The USDA continues to negotiate with Japan on permanent stay and non-racing horses. The Republic of South Africa (RSA) will not accept horses from the U.S. Other than horses to Japan and the RSA, the USDA continues to endorse certificates with the statement that the U.S. is free of CEM and is confident on the U.S.’s disease status.

Background

CEM is a highly communicable venereal disease. It is transmitted through breding, and may also be spread by artificial insemination. Infected stallions display no clinical signs of the disease. Infected mares develop metritis (inflammation of the lining of the uterus) and temporary infertility. Most mares that are infected with the disease will not conceive, and if they do may abort or give birth to a foal that becomes a carrier upon its maturity. Infected mares cannot be successfully treated until the CEM bacteria is clear from the uterus, which may take several months. The external genitalia of the mare and stallion can be treated with disinfectants and antibiotics.

As the national trade association representing the horse industry in Washington, D.C., the American Horse Council works daily to represent equine interests and investments. Organized in 1969, the AHC promotes and protects the industry by communicating with Congress, federal agencies, the media and the industry on behalf of all horse related interests each and every day.

The AHC is member supported by individuals and organizations representing virtually every facet of the horse world from owners, breeders, veterinarians, farriers, breed registries and horsemen's associations to horse shows, race tracks, rodeos, commercial suppliers and state horse councils.