The Canadian horse industry says it supports steps taken by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to deal with the possible outbreak of a contagious disease.
The CFIA has confirmed that horse semen imported from a stallion in the United States was infected with contagious equine metritis (CEM), which affects a horse’s reproductive tract and produces temporary infertility in mares.
“We absolutely support any measures the CFIA takes to keep this under control,” said Marnie Somers of Carberry, Man., president of the Canadian Quarter Horse Association.
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The CFIA has recommended that the horse industry refrain from importing breeding horses, embryos and semen from the U.S. until the agency has done further investigation.
Somers said her organization has sent information about the threat to its members.
U.S. officials have confirmed that three stallions on a Kentucky farm tested positive for CEM. Kentucky semen is generally used for racehorses and Quarter horses.
Shipments of frozen semen from one of those animals were sent to farms in Alberta and Ontario last spring. In a Dec. 24 News release
news, CFIA officials said the agency is tracing those shipments to identify animals that may have been exposed to the disease.
Any such animals will be placed under quarantine until they have tested negative for the disease.
CFIA officials could not be reached last week to say if horses have been found to be infected or placed under quarantine.
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 can be successfully treated with disinfectants and antibiotics.
It is a reportable disease, which means horse owners or veterinarians who suspect a case should contact their local CFIA office.
