The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has placed temporary import restrictions on U.S. horses, semen and embryos to prevent the spread of contagious equine metritis.
As of Jan. 19, Canadians importing live horses or returning horses to Canada must obtain additional certifications that the animals have not been on a farm where CEM has been found.
As of Jan. 26, new import requirements will also apply to horse embryos and semen.
The trade in horse semen and embryos between the two countries has been unrestricted for about 10 years but will now have to comply with the tighter rules.
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Dr. Michael Wheeler, veterinary program specialist with CFIA’s animal health and welfare management unit, said the measures have been implemented to maintain Canada’s CEM-free status.
“It’s a precautionary measure until we understand the situation in the U.S.”
The CFIA introduced the new import restrictions after nine stallions in the United States tested positive for CEM: four in Kentucky, three in Indiana, one in Wisconsin and one in Texas. Through an extensive trace-back system, the USDA has identified 275 horses in 38 states that were exposed to the stallions.
Shipments of frozen semen from one of the stallions were sent to Canada last spring. Three premises in Alberta and six in Ontario are under quarantine, and the exposed mares are being tested.
All the mares in Canada and the U.S. that were tested for the disease have come back negative. A second test is required before the mares are declared CEM free.
“For Canada it’s extremely important that we maintain our CEM free status,” said Vel Evans, a member of Equine Canada’s breeds and industry council.
No Canadian horses have tested positive for CEM. The affected stallions are Quarter horses, American Paint and Friesian breeds.
Evans said CEM is easy to treat with disinfectants and antibiotics, but testing for it is not necessarily straight-forward. None of the stallions that tested positive bred mares naturally. Most artificial insemination is enhanced with semen extenders containing antibiotics.
“I think that is our saving grace,” Wheeler said.
The disease does have the Thoroughbred industry worried, he said, because of rules that permit only natural breeding.
CEM is a highly contagious disease that affects the reproductive tract of horses and can cause temporary infertility in mares. It is a reportable disease in Canada. All suspected cases must be reported to the CFIA.
Infected stallions tend to be the major source of infection and can harbour the disease for years without showing clinical signs. Primary symptoms in mares are short-term infertility and vaginal discharge, but some mares show no signs of infection.
“The message to industry is to get this import certificate and that may require five to 10 business days,” Evans said.
“Those breeders in country that are experienced in bringing in cold semen should organize an import certificate in advance.”
Canadian horses already in the United States and travelling on a health certificate do not have to meet the additional requirements and can return to Canada under the same health certificate in which they left.
Horses exported to Canada for slaughter are exempt from the restrictions.
