CEM Alert in Canada: Semen From Infected Kentucky Stallions Crossed Border into Alberta and Ontario; Government Urges Stop to US Semen Import

Here's a notice from the Canadian government about the possibility of CEM-infected semen being used on Canadian mares. Canada, like the USA, is concerned about losing its CEM-free status for equine transport. This disease has many far-reaching implications for horse breeders, buyers, sellers, and international exhibitors and competitors. It also brings into focus the international scope and impact of horse breeding in North America. While the infection started with Quarter horses, the legal and governmental implecations would affect all breeds and sports.

OTTAWA, December 24, 2008 - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has launched an investigation after confirming that horse semen was imported into Canada from a United States stallion subsequently determined to be infected with contagious equine metritis (CEM). There are no human health implications with this disease.

United States officials have confirmed that three stallions on a Kentucky farm tested positive for CEM. Shipments of frozen semen from one of these stallions were sent to Ontario and Alberta in the spring of 2008. CFIA and provincial animal health officials are currently tracing the shipments to identify potentially exposed animals. As a precaution, the CFIA will place these animals under quarantine until they have tested negative for CEM.

CEM is a highly contagious disease that affects the reproductive tract of horses. The disease can cause temporary infertility in mares. In most cases, CEM can be successfully treated with disinfectants and antibiotics. CEM is a reportable disease in Canada. This means that all suspected cases must be reported to the CFIA for immediate investigation by inspectors. There are international trade implications if a country loses its CEM-free status.

Until more information is available from the U.S., the CFIA is recommending that the equine industry and importers in Canada exercise caution and refrain from importing breeding horses, embryos and semen from the U.S.

CEM is primarily spread directly during natural breeding, but can also be transmitted during artificial insemination and through contaminated instruments and equipment, such as tail bandages, buckets, sponges and gloves. Therefore, horse owners and veterinarians should maintain strict hygiene when handling breeding mares and stallions to prevent infection.

Infected stallions tend to be the major source of infection, as they can harbor the disease for years without showing any clinical signs. The primary symptoms of infection in mares are short-term infertility and vaginal discharge, but some mares can also carry the disease without clinical signs. Any Canadian horse owners or veterinarians who suspect a horse under their care may be infected with CEM should immediately contact their local CFIA District office.

The CFIA will continue to work with provincial counterparts, affected producers and the equine industry in this response effort. Additional information will be provided as it becomes available.

More information about CEM is available on the CFIA Web site at www.inspection.gc.ca.

Great News for 2010 World Equestrian Games: Piraplasmosis Will Not Prevent Horses or Nations from Competing

Note: This press release arrived today and is a great advancement for a true "world" World Equestrian Games (WEG) in 2010 at the Kentucky Horse Park. For many years, horses from countries where piraplasmosis is a problem have been prevented from entering the USA. This restriction has caused disappointment for many countries in the past. Today's announcement is great news!

I am posting the entire press release from the USA WEG offices so blog readers can learn more about the new procedure and also more about this international disease control issue. Here's the official news:

After years of research and planning, a much awaited plan that allows piroplasmosis positive horses to compete in the Alltech 2010 World Equestrian Games (WEG) was announced at November’s FEI General Assembly, by the World Games 2010 Foundation in coordination with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) and the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). The Games will be held in Lexington, Kentucky at the Kentucky Horse Park September 25 to October 10, 2010.

“Effectively negating the piroplasmosis risk for both competition horses and the domestic horse population is a primary focus for our team, as part of our overall importation and quarantine plan,” said Dr. Kent Allen DVM, 2010 Games Veterinary Services Coordinator. “We want all horses to enter a healthy environment, and to leave the Games from a healthy environment.”

Piroplasmosis is an equine blood-borne disease, causing sickness in horses that have not been exposed to the disease before. In areas of the world where the disease is more common, it can be transmitted by carrier horses that have encountered the disease previously and carry both the organism and antibodies in their blood.

The piroplasmosis organism requires specific tick species to complete its life cycle. For the organism to spread, this species of tick must feed on an infected horse, then drop off and feed on a non-infected horse. The protective control plan consists of multiple factors designed to reduce the prevalence and introduction of ticks to the environment in and around the Kentucky Horse Park.

Over the past several years, the USDA, KDA, and APHIS have conducted extensive studies and testing to better understand the area’s tick population. The studies identified that the tick population drops significantly during the fall season when the Games will be held.

“The health and well-being of the horse is at the core of everything we must do in preparation for these Games,” said World Games Foundation Chairman John Long. “We are fortunate to have a team of state and federal agencies working with veterinary officials and experts to ensure that all horses enter and leave the country in the best environmental circumstances.”

Multiple tick mitigation practices and policy will be implemented to further reduce risk. These practices include natural tick barriers, establishing designated grazing areas treated with tick retardant agents, and separate stabling and frequent inspection of horses upon reentry into the stables.

Horses will be treated with an equine de-wormer that effectively kills attached ticks prior to entry. In addition, piroplasmosis-positive horses will be shipped directly from their federally-mandated quarantine center to special stables within the Kentucky Horse Park, and will also be required to leave the country directly from these stables.

“The Kentucky Department of Agriculture is confident that these procedures will protect all horses at the 2010 Games,” said Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer. “We are supportive of the Foundation’s efforts to ensure the health and safety of both competition horses and the domestic horse population.”

These protective strategies will allow the entire park to be utilized by all competition horses during the 2010 Games, while providing the needed assurance that the U.S. domestic horse population is not put at risk.

USDA Ease on Quarantine is Music to the Ears of Dancing Stallions

Entertainment horses like the white stallions of the Spanish Riding School of Vienna will be able to enjoy a more lenient import process while touring the USA in the future, according to the US Department of Agriculture's new ruling.

Need a good reason for a headache? Try importing a performing stallion troupe into the USA from a CEM-infected country. (CEM stands for Contagious Equine Metritis, an equine venereal disease) The paperwork and quarantine could take longer than the tour!

This has always been a known obstacle to the tours of groups like the horse-circus/opera Cavalia or the regal performances of the centuries-old Spanish Riding School Lipizzaners from Austria. A 2007 outbreak of CEM at the SRS forced cancellation of the 2008 USA tour, which is now being re-scheduled.

The new plans should be easier, thanks to an announcement made today: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has amended its import rules to allow noncompetitive entertainment horses to be temporarily brought into the U.S. from countries affected with the venereal disease, Contagious Equine Metritis. The final rule, titled Temporary Importation of Horses: Noncompetitive Entertainment Horses From Countries Affected with Contagious Equine Metritis, is effective July 7, 2008.

Noncompetitive entertainment horses are those that participate in performances or exhibitions and are not entered into competitions, such as races or shows. Examples of such horses include circus horses, the Spanish Riding School's Lippizans of Austria and the Lusitano and Andalusian performance stallions in Cavalia.

The final rules allow these non-competitive entertainment horses to enter the U.S. without having to be test bred under a special permit that is longer than the 90 day permit for competitive horses. The new rules impose additional requirements for the importation of these horses, including additional information that must be provided to apply for a permit and the plans and itineraries for housing, transit and performances while in the U.S. The permits, if approved, will last for one year, and the importer can apply to renew the permit.

The rules require that these noncompetitive entertainment horses be imported and maintained in the U.S. though a trust fund agreement executed by the horse’s owner or importer. This would ensure that the government is reimbursed for the services it provides, such as administrative costs and costs for a USDA representative to monitor the horses. The agreement is also intended to ensure that the importer will be able to fully uphold the requirements specified for these horses over extended periods of time.

Thanks to the American Horse Council for this update.