This disease is a highly contagious bacterial infection of the mare's reproductive system, which is mainly transmitted through mating. The stallion is only a carrier of the pathogen and does not show any clinical symptoms. The disease, known as contagious equine metritis (CEM), was first described in detail in 1977 and is a notifiable disease in Germany.
The disease is caused by a bacterium that colonizes the external genital organs of stallions without causing any symptoms. In most cases, the pathogen is transmitted through mating or artificial insemination, although indirect transmission via contaminated objects is also possible.
Larger breeding farms are particularly at risk, as one infected stallion is enough to infect a large number of mares without being noticed. So-called carrier stallions can harbor the pathogen for years, and mares and foals from infected mares can also be asymptomatic carriers and spread the disease undetected.
Initial contact with the pathogen usually leads to infertility in mares, which can be recognized by a recurrence of estrus shortly after mating. After an incubation period of a few days to two weeks, inflammation of the uterus, cervix, and vagina occurs. The main symptom of these inflammatory processes is a mucous to purulent vaginal discharge. Reddening of the genital mucosa and fetal resorption (dissolution and removal of an embryo that has died in the uterus) may also occur.
Milder forms of the disease are characterized by the absence of any symptoms other than a shortened cycle. The estrus cycle may be prolonged and fetal resorption may also occur after conception. Miscarriages at later stages of pregnancy are rare in CEM.
In stallions, there is a superficial infection of the external genital organs, but this is not accompanied by any clinical symptoms or an antibody response from the immune system. The pathogens remain infectious in the external genital organs of the stallion for years and can thus be permanently transmitted to mares.
The clinical picture already gives your vet clear indications of CEM, although other infectious causes must also be considered. Further tests are necessary to confirm the suspected diagnosis. To do this, the vet can take genital swabs from both the mare and the stallion, from which the pathogen is cultured in special laboratories. Blood tests are also possible in mares to detect antibodies against the pathogen. Since stallions do not produce antibodies, this test is not useful in stallions.
Affected mares can be successfully treated by thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting the external genital organs, flushing the uterus, and then applying antibiotics externally. However, treatment can take several months, and its success should be monitored with repeat swab samples.
Treatment of carrier stallions is often less complicated than that of sick mares and is much more quickly successful. The external genital organs are also treated with local washes and antibiotic ointments, and general antibiotic preparations are used if necessary.
The most important preventive measure is to adhere to the strictest hygiene measures in the management of broodmares and stallions. It is recommended that all broodmares and stallions be tested for CEM before breeding, both for natural mating and artificial insemination. These tests are mandatory for some breeding associations. Therefore, check with your breeding association in good time about the relevant regulations so that the tests can be carried out well in advance of the start of the breeding season. For European breeding and insemination stallions, two swab samples must be taken at three locations at intervals of seven days before the start of each insemination season and repeated at specified intervals. CEM-positive mares require long-term monitoring as they can give birth to CEM-positive foals despite negative swabs. Before importing or exporting a broodmare to or from a country, it should also be tested for CEM.
There is currently no vaccine against CEM.
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