Equis ISSN 2398-2977
Taylorella equigenitalis
Synonym(s): T. equigenitalis Contagious equine metritis organism CEMO
Contributor(s): Sarah Binns, Susan Dawson, Prof Peter Timoney, Richard Walker
Introduction
Classification
Taxonomy
- Genus:Taylorella.
- Species:equigenitalis.
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Clinical Effects
Epidemiology
Habitat
- Stallions: urethral fossa, urethral sinus, prepuce and urethra.
- Recovered mares: clitoral fossa and sinuses and the uterus in some mares .
Transmission
- Usually sexual.
- Can also be spread on fomites, eg veterinary instruments.
Pathological effects
- Recovered animals are resistant to disease for several months, but may be re-infected.
- Antibody titers are of short duration and are unrelated to carrier status.
- Sexual transmission to mare → endometritis
within a few days Uterus: contagious equine metritis .
- T. equigenitalisdamages uterine epithelium → covered by neutrophilic exudate → mononuclear infiltrate in endometrial stroma
→ some cases develop mucoid to mucopurulent vulval discharge.
- Metritis resolves spontaneously in a few weeks, with complete resolution of endometrial damage.
- No lasting impairment of fertility.
- May infect placenta, but rarely associated with abortion Abortion: overview .
- Congenital infection has been reported.
Other Host Effects
- Carried asymptomatically in stallions and many recovered mares.
Control
Control via animal
Clinical cases
- Intra-uterine infusion of disinfectant or antimicrobials.
- Topical treatment.
- Systemic antibiotics.
Control
- Imported stallions: cleansing and antibacterials applied to external genitalia.
- Mate imported stallions to uninfected mares, then culture mares forT. equigenitalisand test serologically for development of antibodies to the bacterium .
- Culture from uterus or cervix, clitoral fossa and clitoral sinuses of imported mares repeatedly during one estrus cycle.
- Surgical obliteration of the clitoral sinuses to eliminate carriage in mares Clitoris: surgery .
Control via chemotherapies
Control via environment
Vaccination
- None currently available.
Other countermeasures
- Hygiene during breeding is important.
Diagnosis
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Further Reading
Publications
Refereed papers
- Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
- Moore et al (2001) Molecular surveillance of the incidence of Taylorella equigenitalis and Psedomonas aeruginosa from horses in Ireland by sequence-specific PCR. Equine Vet J 33 (3), 319-322 PubMed.
- Katz J B, Evans L E et al (2000) Clinical, bacteriologic, serologic and pathologic features of infections with atypical Taylorella equigenitalis in mares. JAVMA 216 (12), 1945-1948 PubMed.
- Timoney P J (1996) Contagious equine metritis. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 19 (3), 199-204 PubMed.
Other sources of information
- Horserace Betting Levy Board (2016) Codes of Practice. 5th Floor, 21 Bloomsbury Street, London WC1B 3HF, UK. Tel: +44 (0)207 333 0043; Fax: +44 (0)207 333 0041; Email: enquiries@hblb.org.uk; Website: http://codes.hblb.org.uk.