Study on Occurrence of Contagious Equine Metritis in the Genital Tract of Equine.

Abstract

IntroductionContagious equine metritis (CEM) was first described in the United Kingdom (UK) in 1977, and then become world-wide [1].Contagious equine metritis is an inflammatory disease of the proximal and distal reproductive tract of the mare caused by Taylorellaequigenitalis, causing mares temporary infertile [2].Taylorellaequigenitalis is a Gram-negative, microaerophiliccocco bacillus bacterium, transmitted during mating.Infected mares had a profuse, mucopurulent vaginal discharge up to 40% of affected mares due to inflammation C ONTAGIOUS Equine Metritis (CEM) is a transmissible venereal disease of equine, causes infertility in mares and spontaneous abortion in pregnant ones. Theetiological agent of CEM is Gram negative bacteria; Taylorellaequigenitalis. In this study,a number of45 clitoral swabswere collected from suspected mares and twenty swabs were fromurethral fossa of stallions. Swabs were kept cool during transportation on Amies with charcoal medium. At the lab, all swabs during 48 hours since they have been collected then cultured on tryptose chocolate blood agar (TBA) plates, and incubated at 37ºC in microaerophilic atmosphere of 5%-10% CO 2 in hydrogen of 7 days. The suspected colonies have been examined for biochemical characters of catalase, oxidase and phosphatase.Allmareswere scannedby ultrasound scanner (Sono Scape sonar), vaginal and/or rectal, checked for the presence of any uterine fluid which may indicate the presence of infection. On the other hand, culture investigations revealed 2 (10%) positive cases among stallions and 5 (11.1%) mare's culture positive for T. equigenitalis. The bacterium is catalase, oxidase and phosphatase positive. The colonies were confirmed by immunofluorescent test and its sensitivity was 100%.Ultrasound examination of three mare's uteri showing pyometra where their lumen measured 40.6-57.3 mm fully filled with echogenic particles. While, the uteri of the other two mares showingendometritis which appearedas an echogenicuterine lumen measured 18.6 mm and 37.6 mm with echogenic particles scattered on it. Biosecurity practices can help in preventingspread of CEM by bacterial culture tests on breeding stallions prior to breeding season. Also, urethral swab for CEM testing should be a stallion's annual breeding exam. According to this study an ultrasound scan at the breeding season to check for the soundness of the mare uteri is strongly recommended.

Current and Future Advances in the Detection and Surveillance of Biosecurity-Relevant Equine Bacterial Diseases Using Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP)

“…An initial outbreak in Kentucky in 1978 saw a significant economic impact to their equine industry, particularly for Thoroughbreds [ 23 , 24 , 25 ]. Following this, the US experienced further smaller outbreaks in 1979 [ 26 ], 1982 [ 23 ], and 2006 [ 27 ] in Missouri, Kentucky, and Wisconsin, respectively. These outbreaks were all related to the importation of a single infected horse [ 23 , 25 , 26 , 27 ].…”

“…Following this, the US experienced further smaller outbreaks in 1979 [ 26 ], 1982 [ 23 ], and 2006 [ 27 ] in Missouri, Kentucky, and Wisconsin, respectively. These outbreaks were all related to the importation of a single infected horse [ 23 , 25 , 26 , 27 ]. Fortunately, these outbreaks were small-scale, and the disease was eradicated with proper measures, enabling the US to regain its CEM-free status [ 23 ].…”