Contagious Equine Metritis Epidemiology
The incidence and distribution in Montana and elsewhere, along with the information regarding the spread of the disease.
Mode of Transmission
- Direct contamination = Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM) is transmitted directly by coitus. Undetected carrier mares and stallions are the source of infection for acute outbreaks of the disease.
- Indirect contamination = The CEM organism is also indirectly transmitted to mares and stallion with contaminated instruments and equipment.
Incidence
Because of the insidious nature of the disease, it is difficult to determine its origin or how widely it is distributed throughout the world. However, the first diagnosed case was made in England in 1977.
Countries known to be affected with CEM include:
- Austria,
- Belgium,
- Bosnia-Herzegovina,
- Croatia,
- Czech Republic,
- Denmark,
- Finland,
- France,
- Germany,
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- Greece,
- Guinea-Bissau,
- Ireland,
- Italy,
- Japan,
- Luxembourg,
- former Yugoslavian republic Macedonia,
- Montenegro,
- Netherlands,
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- Norway,
- Scotland,
- Serbia,
- Slovak Republic,
- Slovenia,
- Sweden,
- Switzerland,
- United Kingdom,
- Wales.
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The first cases of CEM in the United States occurred on March 9, 1978, on thoroughbred farms in central Kentucky. In April of the following year, an outbreak occurred in Missouri. The disease was rapidly eradicated from both States and has not subsequently been found in the U.S. horse population.