Contagious Equine Metritis

Description

Contagious equine metritis (CEM) is a contagious venereal disease caused by Taylorella (formerly Haemophilus) equigenitalis and is characterised by a mucopurulent vaginal discharge and early return to oestrus. Infected stallions are asymptomatic and act as reservoirs of T. equigenitalis. Usually, only 30-40% of mares served by an infected stallion develop clinical signs and most infected mares recover uneventfully. CEM is commonly associated with an early return to oestrus, but only rarely with abortion. T equigenitalis may persist for 2-10 weeks in some mares, but may also establish a carrier state for many months in others.

Diagnosis and tests available

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is based on recovery of Taylorella equigenitalis from the genital tract.

Tests available

Test	Sample(s) required	Days of the week test is conducted	Turnaround time¹
Culture - Contagious equine metritis (Taylorella equigenitalis)	Swab	Monday – Saturday	6 days
Taylorella equigenitalis PCR	PCR performed from culture	Monday – Friday	3 days

¹Turnaround times are provided as a guide only. For specific information about your submission please contact Customer Service.

Additional Information

Specimen requirements

Swab
Swabs should be taken from each of the following sites and submitted without refrigeration in Amies charcoal transport medium for bacteriology: Stallions - Three swabs per animal from The prepuce and base of penis (smegma), terminal urethra, and urethral fossa and urethral sinus. Non-pregnant mares - Three swabs per animal from cervix, clitoral sinus, and clitoral fossa. Pregnant mares - Two swabs per animal from clitoral sinus, and clitoral fossa.
Additional information
Exposure of swabs to high temperatures should be avoided. Submitters should provide the time and date of collection. Swabs should arrive at the laboratory and be plated out within 48 hours of collection.

Swab

Swabs should be taken from each of the following sites and submitted without refrigeration in Amies charcoal transport medium for bacteriology:

Stallions - Three swabs per animal from
- The prepuce and base of penis (smegma),
- terminal urethra, and
- urethral fossa and urethral sinus.
Non-pregnant mares - Three swabs per animal from
- cervix,
- clitoral sinus, and
- clitoral fossa.
Pregnant mares - Two swabs per animal from
- clitoral sinus, and
- clitoral fossa.

Additional information

Exposure of swabs to high temperatures should be avoided.
Submitters should provide the time and date of collection. Swabs should arrive at the laboratory and be plated out within 48 hours of collection.

Customer Service

Contact Customer Service for enquiries relating to testing and results, quotations and pricing, couriers, sample submission and invoicing.

NSW DPI's laboratories are committed to continual improvement of services. If you would like to provide feedback, please fill in and submit the online feedback form.

CONTACT DETAILS
Phone	1800 675 623
Email	laboratory.services@dpi.nsw.gov.au
Operating Hours	8:30am-4:30pm Monday-Friday (excluding public holidays) 8:30am-12:00pm Saturday (for deliveries only)
Postal Address	Private Bag 4008, Narellan NSW 2567

Quotations

For Animal export, Plant health or Veterinary quotations, please complete the online quotation request

For Edible oil & oilseed or Feed quality quotations and pricing enquiries, please contact DPI AgEnviro Labs at Wagga Wagga on (02) 6938 1957

For Plant nutrition, Soil health or Water quality quotations and pricing enquiries, please contact DPI AgEnviro Labs at Wollongbar on (02) 6626 1103

Submission Forms

Veterinary Specimen Advice Form

Courier services and specimen delivery

For NSW submissions, please contact the relevant Customer Service team for courier account details and to order consignment notes.

For submitters outside of NSW, Couriers can be contacted directly to make bookings and arrange collection of packages at the submitters own cost.

Commercial couriers may use either road or air transport and specimens should therefore be packed in accordance with International Air Transport Association (IATA) requirements. Most submission sent by veterinarians to the SVDL for testing are defined as “Biological Substance Category B” and must be packed according to the IATA packing instructions 650 (Biological Substance Category B). As requirements for transport can change, customers should consult with their transport agent to obtain current requirements.

Samples may also be hand delivered to the site during normal business hours (8.30am - 4.30pm).

Sample Type	Laboratory	Delivery Address
Animal (including aquatic animals)	NSW Animal and Plant Health Laboratories (APHL)	EMAI, Woodbridge Road, Menangle NSW 2568