Transmissibility of the contagious equine metritis organism for the cat

Abstract

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.

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

“…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).…”

Detection of Taylorella equigenitalis in Horses by Means of Bacteriological Culture and PCR in Sanliurfa Region, Turkey

“…℡ +90 414 3183918 � oyasar@harran.edu.tr Şanlıurfa Bölgesi'nde Atlarda... çalışmalarda CEM eşeklerde hastalık oluştururken sığır, domuz, koyun ve kedilerde oluşturmadığı bildirilmiştir [10][11][12] . CEM kısraklarda kısa süreli infertilite oluşturmasının yanında kısrak ve aygırların asemptomatik taşıyıcı olma larından dolayı uluslararası önemini sürdürmektedir [13][14][15] .…”