CEM Flashcards
What is etiological agent of Contagious Equine Metritis?
Taylorella equigenitalis, a Gram-negative, non-acid-fast, non-motile bacterium with fastidious growth requirements.
What is the common route of transmission for CEM?
The common route of transmission for Contagious Equine Metritis is venereal. A mare can be infected through artificial insemination with fresh cooled or extended semen from a carrier Stallion. However, the risk of transmission by this route is significantly less. Indirect genital contact through fomites such as speculum, forceps, sleeves, tail bandages, etc. Other major objects associated with CEM transmission have been the phantom and artificial vagina used to collect Stallions. On rare occasion has been suggested that a pregnant mare can continue to harbor the bacterium an some foals might become contaminated at birth and few cases abortion has been suggested to occur.
What is pathogenesis of CEM?
The bacterium Taylorella equigenitalis will invade the mucosa of female reproductive tract (vagina, cervix, and uterus) leading to local inflammation in these tissues that will manifest with the occurrence of vaginitis, cervicitis, and endometritis that might lead to production of copious purulent discharge white to grayish color that start in about 3 days after infection and reach its highest quantities between 7 to 12 days. Mild focal salpingitis might be observed. The Stallion are asymptomatic.
What is the clinical signs of CEM?
Stallions will be asymptomatic, but mares will have a non-life threatening venereally transmissible disease that is exclusive of the reproductive tract with in rare occasion causing abortion around 7 months of gestation. Mares will present copious purulent discharge of white to grayish in color that is odorless and might last two weeks. Short term infertility due to vaginitis, cervicitis, and endometritis is common. Mares, but not Stallion develop an antibody response that is usually short-lived.
How CEM is diagnosed?
Contagious Equine Metritis can be diagnosed by culture or PCR of the bacterium Taylorella equigenitalis from specimens collected using swabs in mares in the clitoral fossa and clitoral sinus, where in Stallions it can be cultures from uretral fossa and sinus. Mares presenting profuse discharge can have discharge evaluates in the microscope for the presence of the bacterium morphologically resembling T. equigenitalis. When evaluating semen PCR has not yet been fully validated.
Ho can CEM be treated?
CEM can be treated with local antibiotics such as gentamicin and tetracycline diluted to 6% infused in uterus. In males the prepuce can be treated with local antibiotics, plus local application of emollients and furosemide.
How can CEM be prevented?
CEM can be prevented by identification and isolation from breeding of mares with signs of discharge. Stallions mate with mare presenting clinical signs resembling CEM should be diagnosed and treated accordingly.
