Nine horses have been quarantined as inspection officials move to halt the potential spread of a disease that could have entered the country in contaminated semen.
Three mares in Alberta and six in Ontario have been placed in isolation by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency in an effort to prevent further spread of contagious equine metritis (CEM).
None of the animals has been confirmed as having the disease, said Michael Wheeler, veterinary program specialist for the CFIA.
“At this point it is all precautionary,” he said.
Read Also
Rural Manitoba resources slim on natural disaster planning
A study from Brandon University’s Rural Development Institute has found that many rural and small municipalities don’t have the staff or resources to make formal climate plans against natural disaster.
The case came to light in late December when animal health officials in the U.S. confirmed that three stallions on a Kentucky farm tested positive CEM. Kentucky semen is generally used for racehorses and Quarter horses.
In the spring of 2008, shipments of frozen semen from one of those animals were sent to farms in Alberta and Ontario.
CFIA officials traced the semen shipments and placed exposed animals in isolation.
Wheeler said they will remain in quarantine until tests have found them to be free of the contagion. It could be a month before test results are known.
He said the agency is confident it has identified all the at-risk animals, but added that if U.S. officials report more cases, the process will be resumed.
CEM is primarily spread through natural breeding but can also be transmitted during artificial insemination and through contaminated instruments and equipment. Strict hygiene is crucial in preventing infections.
The disease is generally successfully treated with disinfectants and antibiotics.
CEM is a reportable disease, which means any horse owner or veterinarian who suspects a case should contact their local CFIA office.
