Attempted transmission of contagious equine metritis 1977 to other domestic animal species

Timoney, PJ; O'Reilly, PJ; McArdle, JF; Ward, John A.

doi:10.1136/vr.102.7.152-a

Cited by 8 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…Evidence would indicate that T. equigenitalis is a natural pathogen of equids, particularly horses. Under experimental conditions, the organism has been successfully transmitted to donkeys but not to cattle, sheep, swine, or cats (Timoney et al, 1978c(Timoney et al, , 1984(Timoney et al, , 1985a. Whereas certain congenic strains of mice can be infected with T. equigenitalis, infections are relatively shortlived and not associated with overt signs of disease (Timoney et al, 1985b).…”

Section: Features Of the Etiologic Agentmentioning

confidence: 99%

HORSE SPECIES SYMPOSIUM: Contagious equine metritis: An insidious threat to the horse breeding industry in the United States1

Timoney

2011

Journal of Animal Science

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Contagious equine metritis (CEM) has given rise to international concern since it was first recognized as a novel venereal disease of equids in 1977 and the etiologic agent was identified as a previously undescribed bacterium, Taylorella equigenitalis. Horse industry concerns over CEM centered on the ease with which this bacterium could be disseminated, the significance of T. equigenitalis as a cause of short-term infertility in the mare, and the existence of the carrier state in the stallion and the mare. The first known outbreak of CEM in the United States was in Kentucky in 1978. The economic impact on the Thoroughbred industry in the state was substantial. Before 2008, additional small-scale outbreaks occurred in Missouri in 1979, Kentucky in 1982, and Wisconsin in 2006, nearly all attributed to the importation of carrier animals. On each occasion, appropriate measures were taken to eliminate the infection, resulting in the United States regaining its CEM-free status. With the exception of the 1978 occurrence in Kentucky, none of the subsequent outbreaks significantly affected the horse industry. That changed dramatically in 2008, however, after the discovery of a Quarter horse stallion in Kentucky that cultured positive. Subsequent investigations turned up 23 carrier stallions and 5 carrier mares belonging to 11 breeds and located in 8 states. Shipment of infective semen and indirect venereal contact in stallion collection centers through the use of contaminated fomites were major factors in the spread of T. equigenitalis. Trace-back investigations of some 1,005 exposed and carrier stallions and mares in 48 states have failed to identify the origin of this latest CEM event. Neither clinical evidence of CEM nor decreased pregnancy rates were reportedly a feature in infected or exposed mares. In light of these findings, there was some question of whether or not the considerable expense incurred in investigating the latest CEM occurrence was warranted. Regaining CEM-free status for the United States will present considerable challenges.

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Section: Features Of the Etiologic Agentmentioning

confidence: 99%

HORSE SPECIES SYMPOSIUM: Contagious equine metritis: An insidious threat to the horse breeding industry in the United States1

Timoney

2011

Journal of Animal Science

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“…This species specificity of immunoglobulin binding by T. equigenitalis may be significant in light of the specific pathogenicity of this organism. Transmission studies in the genital tracts of sheep, cows, sows, rabbits, mice, and guinea pigs (21,22) succeeded in establishing infection only in mice, although the bacteria could also be isolated for a limited period after intrauterine inoculation in rabbits and guinea pigs. In no case, however, did inflammation accompany the infection.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nonimmune binding of equine immunoglobulin by the causative organism of contagious equine metritis, Taylorella equigenitalis

Widders¹,

Stokes²,

Newby³

et al. 1985

Infect Immun

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This study identifies nonimmune binding of equine immunoglobulin by the causative organism of contagious equine metritis. Immunoglobulin binding to the bacterium was strongest for immunoglobulin G (IgG) and less for IgM; IgA was not bound. Binding of equine IgG was inhibited by human IgG, but not by IgG of domestic animals. Immunoglobulin binding by the bacterium appeared to be directed towards an epitope in the hinge region of the immunoglobulin molecule.

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“…The horse remains the only species in which spontaneous disease with this organism has been reported. Whereas CEM has been experimentally reproduced in donkey mares [6], cattle, sheep and pigs have been refractive to experimental challenge [7]. Limited subclinical infections have been established in mice, rabbits and guinea-pigs, with mice the most susceptible of the three species examined [8,9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transmissibility of the contagious equine metritis organism for the cat

Timoney

Shin

Lein

et al. 1984

Comparative Immunology, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases

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A group of SPF cats were moderately susceptible to the causal organism of contagious equine metritis (CEM) following intra-uterine or intrapreputial challenge with an Irish streptomycin resistant strain isolated from a clinically infected mare. Subclinical infections were established in only 50% of the cats, none of which became long-term carriers of the organism. Cytological examination of vaginal smears was of no diagnostic value in confirming infection in inapparently infected cats. Bacteriological responses after primary or secondary challenge with the CEM organism were essentially similar, with one exception, a female cat in which there was possible evidence of local immunity persisting after the primary infection. Efforts to reactivate shedding subsequent to the immediate post-challenge period were unsuccessful. Throughout the experimental period, the cats remained sero-negative to the complement-fixation test, and they failed to develop any significant increase in the levels of antibody activity as measured by the kinetics-based ELISA or KELA system. On day 89 after primary challenge, the cats were euthanized and various sites in the genitourinary tract and the internal iliac lymphatic glands subjected to bacteriological and pathological examination for evidence of CEM infection with negative results. The findings of this study, although establishing the transmissibility of the CEM organism for the cat, demonstrate the limited value of this species as an experimental model system for the disease in the horse.

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Attempted transmission of contagious equine metritis 1977 to other domestic animal species

Cited by 8 publications

References 0 publications

HORSE SPECIES SYMPOSIUM: Contagious equine metritis: An insidious threat to the horse breeding industry in the United States1

HORSE SPECIES SYMPOSIUM: Contagious equine metritis: An insidious threat to the horse breeding industry in the United States1

Nonimmune binding of equine immunoglobulin by the causative organism of contagious equine metritis, Taylorella equigenitalis

Transmissibility of the contagious equine metritis organism for the cat

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