Wyoming Livestock Board
1934 Wyott Drive
Cheyenne WY 82002
Contact Information : State Veterinarian Dr. Cook 307-777-6443
Assistant State Veterinarian Dr. Logan 307-857-4140
January 20, 2009
**********PRESS
RELEASE**********
The Wyoming State Veterinarian's Office has been notified by the
USDA/APHIS that Wyoming is epidemiologically linked to a Wisconsin
stallion that was infected with Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM). CEM
is a highly contagious equine venereal disease caused by the bacterium
Taylorella equigenitalis and is considered a foreign animal disease in
the US.
As of January 15th, a total of nine infected stallions have been
detected; four in Kentucky, three in Indiana, and one each in Texas and
Wisconsin. This outbreak was first detected in mid December 2008 during
routine pre-breeding testing of a stallion in Kentucky. All of the
infected stallions have epidemiological links to one or more CEM
infected horses during the 2007 or 2008 breeding seasons. State and
federal veterinary authorities are continuing to determine the original
source of the infection.
At least 40 states, including Wyoming, are involved in a nationwide
epidemiological investigation and testing of nearly 350 horses that may
have been exposed to CEM through natural breeding or artificial
insemination. CEM can have devastating financial impacts on the
breeding segment of the horse industry due to infertility, abortion, and
loss of the foal crop. However, unlike some foreign animal diseases
which may require destruction of infected and exposed animals, CEM is a
treatable disease and animals that are treated can be cleared of the
disease and continue to be used as breeding animals. USDA/APHIS has
established testing protocol and treatment guidelines in consultation
with state veterinarians, as well as laboratory, research, and academic
veterinarians and microbiologists.
The premises and horses where the Wyoming animal linked to the outbreak
resides has been quarantined and testing will be conducted to determine
whether the animal is infected. Appropriate regulatory action and
treatment will be conducted if infection is found in this case.
Additional national information on CEM may be found on the USDA's
website at:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/hot_issues/cem/index.shtml and by
contacting Dr. Walt Cook, Wyoming State Veterinarian at 307-777-6443, or
Dr. Jim Logan, Wyoming Assistant State Veterinarian at 307-857-4140.
