Wisconsin stallions must test negative for CEM before entering Kentucky.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, February 26, 2009
For more information contact:Bill Clary
(502) 564-1137


FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky now requires stallions from Wisconsin to test negative for contagious equine metritis (CEM) before they can enter the state for breeding purposes under an order issued today by State Veterinarian Dr. Robert C. Stout.

The order stems from Kentucky’s investigation of the CEM outbreak that was discovered in December. The state’s investigation found that a paint horse that moved from Wisconsin to Kentucky for the 2008 breeding season was infected with the organism that causes CEM in mares.

Under the order, swabs taken from a Wisconsin horse must be tested by culture in an approved CEM laboratory and reported negative for the organism during the 28 days preceding entry into Kentucky. A certification statement must be made by the attending veterinarian that the stallion was not bred, nor was semen collected from the stallion, after the samples were collected.

A quarter horse stallion tested positive for CEM during routine testing for export of semen. The state veterinarian’s office, the University of Kentucky’s Livestock Disease Diagnostic Laboratory and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Kentucky office have quarantined infected and exposed horses and placed them on a strict testing and treatment protocol. A total of four infected stallions have been found in Kentucky. Nationwide, three mares and 11 stallions have tested positive for CEM.

The state veterinarian’s office expects Kentucky again to be free of CEM in the coming weeks. The order was issued to minimize the opportunity for the organism to be reintroduced into Kentucky while the Wisconsin investigation continues.
Contagious equine metritis is a transmissible, exotic venereal disease in horses. It usually results in infertility in mares and, on rare occasions, can cause mares to spontaneously abort. Infected stallions exhibit no clinical signs but can carry the CEM bacteria for years. CEM is commonly transmitted during sexual intercourse but also may be transmitted indirectly through artificial insemination or contact with contaminated hands or objects.

There is no evidence that CEM affects people. The outbreak did not enter Kentucky’s thoroughbred population.

—30—

To find out more about the CEM investigation and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture's equine program, click here.