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Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM), 14d Culture

    Screening of 3 pathogens responsible for Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM): Taylorella equigenitalis by culture over 14 days Pseudomonas aeruginosa by culture  Klebsiela pneumonia by culture Sample...

    €100.00

      Sample RequirementsSample Requirements
      • 2 or 3 genital swabs in Amies transport  medium with charcoal.
      • Clitoral fossa– use standard swab with Amies culture and transport system
      • Clitoral sinuses swabbed – use Minitip Amies culture and transport system. Openings to the sinuses are on the dorsum of the clitoris - the central one is usually always present whereas the lateral sinuses may be multiple or not be present. Swab all that are present.
      • Either cervical (closed cervix if pregnant or mid-cycle) or endometrial(while in estrus or true anestrus) swab – use guarded 25” swab.

      NOTE: Schedule all CEM culture submissions in advance with the laboratory. Multiple culture instances are often required and timing is critical. Official CEM testing generally involves multiple sets of samples taken on multiple days. Exact sampling schedules need to be confirmed with appropriate regulatory agencies in advance of testing. Horses cannot be tested while being treated and for a period of time after treatment with antibiotics.

      Send your sample by regular mail or express delivery to:

      Equigerminal Lab HIESE
      Rua da Quinta do Sobreiro Nº25
      3230-343 Penela, Portugal

      Turnaround TimeTurnaround Time

      14 working days

      About the testAbout the test

      Screening of three pathogens responsible for Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM):

      • Taylorella equigenitalis by culture (14 days)
      • Pseudomonas aeruginosa by culture
      • Klebsiella pneumoniae by culture

      What is Contagious Equine Metritis?

      Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM) is an inflammatory disease of the proximal and distal reproductive tract of the mare caused by Taylorella equigenitalis, usually resulting in temporary infertility.

      It is a non-systemic infection, with effects restricted to the reproductive tract of the mare.

      Clinical signsClinical signs

      When present, general clinical signs include:

      • Endometritis
      • Cervicitis
      • Vaginitis of variable severity
      • Slight to copious mucopurulent vaginal discharge

      In mares

      There are two states of infection:

      Active infection

      • Vulval discharge ranging from very mild to profuse.

      Carrier state

      • No outward clinical signs.
      • Bacteria remain established on the clitoris, clitoral fossa and clitoral sinuses.
      • In infections with Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, bacteria may also persist in the urethra and bladder.

      In stallions

      Infected stallions generally do not show clinical signs.

      The bacteria may be present on:

      • Penis
      • Penile sheath

      These stallions can infect mares during natural mating, teasing or artificial insemination.

      Occasionally the bacteria invade the accessory sex glands, contaminating semen with pus and bacteria.

      TransmissionTransmission
      • Direct venereal contact during natural mating presents the highest risk for the transmission of equigenitalis from a contaminated stallion or an infected mare.
      • Direct venereal transmission can also take place by artificial insemination using infective raw, chilled and possibly frozen semen.
      • Indirectly, infection may be acquired through fomite transmission, manual contamination, inadequate observance of appropriate biosecurity measures at the time of breeding and at semen- collection centres. Stallions can become asymptomatic carriers of equigenitalis.
      • The principal sites of colonisation by the bacterium are the urogenital membranes (urethral fossa, urethral sinus, terminal urethra and penile sheath).

      The sites of persistence of equigenitalis in the majority of carrier mares are the clitoral sinuses and fossa and infrequently the uterus.

      • Foals born of carrier mares may also become carriers.
      • The organism can infect equid species other than horses, e.g. donkeys.o
      PreventionPrevention
      • If infection with equigenitalis is suspected in any mare, stallion or teaser on the basis of clinical signs, all breeding activities must cease immediately.
      • The affected horse(s) should be isolated and swabbed by the attending veterinary surgeon.
      • Arrange swabbing of any at risk horse.
      • Disinfect all equipment used for breeding procedures.
      • Inform all owners of mares booked to the stallion, including any which have already left the premises;
      • Inform people to whom semen from the stallion has been sent;
      • Arrange for one straw from every ejaculate of stored semen from infected and at risk stallions to be tested by a laboratory. If a straw from any ejaculate is infected, all straws from that ejaculate should be destroyed;
      • Any at risk pregnant mare must be foaled in isolation. The placenta must be incinerated. Foals born to these mares should be swabbed three times, at intervals of not less than seven days, before three months of age.
      • Any mares with an abnormal vaginal exudate, or returning to oestrus prematurely, should be investigated and managed as though infected with equigenitalis until results of laboratory testing prove otherwise.
      • If carriers of equigenitalis are detected, the organism can be eliminated by treatment with systemic and/or local antibiotics combined with antiseptic washing of the sites of persistence in the mare and the stallion.
      Additional informationAdditional information

      Important

      Schedule all CEM culture submissions in advance with the laboratory.

      Multiple culture submissions are often required and timing is critical.

      Official CEM testing generally involves multiple sets of samples collected over multiple days.

      Sampling schedules should be confirmed with the appropriate regulatory authorities before testing.

      Horses must not be sampled while receiving antibiotic treatment or during the recommended withdrawal period after treatment.

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