Fourth Stallion in Wisconsin Tests Positive for CEMO Presence A 12th stallion - the fourth in Wisconsin - has tested positive for presence of the Contagious Metritis Organism, Taylorella equigenitalis.
This stallion was co-located during the 2005 and 2006 breeding seasons in Wisconsin with two of the other known positive stallions (one of the positive stallions currently in Wisconsin and one of the positive stallions currently in Indiana). Culture results are pending for 4 more stallions in Wisconsin, and 1 each in Mississippi, Washington and Wyoming.
There are currently 12 known-positive stallions and 3 known-positive mares. A total of 623 horses are confirmed as having been exposed, with 17 States having positive or exposed stallions, and 44 States having positive or exposed mares. One additional exposed mare thought to be in California is still being traced. Eleven exposed stallions have now completed their entire testing and treatment protocol and been determined to be negative for Taylorella equigenitalis, while another 52 exposed stallions have had at least one set of negative cultures prior to test breeding. A total of 191 exposed mares have completed their testing and treatment protocol and are negative for CEMO presence, while at least another 251 exposed mares are pregnant and will not complete their protocols until after foaling, and are currently in quarantine.
03/06/2009
Canada Adjusts Import Restrictions for Equine Semen Coming from USA, but Originating in Another Country
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) today reported changes to import restrictions for semen being imported from the USA to Canada that originated in another country, but that was legally imported to the USA. With the implementation of the increased restrictions on semen import to Canada of January 29th 2009 as a result of the CEM outbreak in the USA, importation to Canada from the USA of third-country semen was prevented. This restriction has now been lifted, although there is still a requirement that - as with semen of US origin - an import permit and Zoosanitary Export Certificate for Semen accompany the shipment, along with a Canada Customs or Commercial Invoice. The Zoosanitary Export Certificate for Semen must certify that the semen was legally imported into the U.S. for unrestricted use, and the country where the semen was collected. This lifting of restrictions applies to both fresh (cooled) and frozen semen, although it has the most implications for frozen semen.
Canadian horses potentially exposed to the Contagious Equine Metritis Organism (CEMO) have now been identified and isolated in six Canadian Provinces - Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan and British Columbia - and testing is underway, but as yet no mares have returned a "positive" result.
02/27/2009
Kentucky Introduces Import Restrictions for Stallions
Kentucky has introduced restrictions on all stallions entering the State for breeding or semen collection purposes that originated in Wisconsin.
These stallions must be tested negative for presence of Taylorella equigenitalis - the causative agent of contagious equine metritis - within the 28 days preceding entry. The test results must be certified by the attending veterinarian, who must also confirm that the stallion had neither bred live cover, nor had semen collected after the swab sample for culture was taken. Additionally, an import permit is required, which can be obtained by the attending veterinarian from the Office of the Kentucky State Veterinarian by calling OSV at (502) 564-3956, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. EST to 4:30 p.m. EST.
02/26/2009
Regulatory Steps for Shipping Semen from the USA to Canada
Importation of semen from the USA to Canada is not insurmountable with the new regulations - indeed, they are essentially the same as the "old" regulations that were in place before the border opened to semen movement about 10 years ago - but they may prove impossible for some who want to ship cooled semen because of time-lines. The steps are as follows:
The mare owner applies to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) for an import permit. Upon receipt of the import permit, it must be sent to the stallion owner/manager to accompany the semen at time of shipment. If it is a multiple-entry permit (which we recommend with fresh semen in case of the need for a rebreed, even though it is more expensive), then a copy can accompany the semen shipment, but the original must be available for review by CFIA/CBSA (Canada Border Services Agency - formerly "Canada Customs") if requested; The semen is collected in the presence of a veterinarian certified by USDA-Aphis for the purpose (this is typically your normal vet), and they must issue a "Zoosanitary Export Certificate for Semen" that certifies as outlined at the foot of this list; That "Zoosanitary Export Certificate for Semen" is taken to a USDA-Aphis office for endorsement by the Federal Vet; A Customs Invoice must be completed and accompany the shipment - they are currently available on-line here; Semen presented for importation into Canada must be in individual receptacles or straws, each marked with the collection date, identity of the donor and the semen collection premises; The semen is shipped. As you can see, it's not difficult, but there are some specific steps that must be completed. If they are not, then the semen will be rejected at the time of inspection by CBSA. The requirement for endorsement by USDA-Aphis in particular is the item that may produce impossible time constraints for some. Obviously frozen semen will permit longer time-delays.
Note that there are NO differences as to the region where the horse is located. Some Internet bulletin board posts that we have seen reference the stallion being in a "CEM free zone" or a "State not currently affected" and that it might make a difference, but it makes no difference to the import requirements. It is semen from ALL of the USA that must be certified in the manner described.
"Zoosanitary Export Certificate for Semen" Declaration wording:
The donor stallion(s) have not been on a premises where T.equigenitalis has been isolated during the 60 days immediately preceding collection of the semen for export to Canada or a premises currently under quarantine or investigation for CEM.
The semen was processed using an extender that contains antibiotics effective against T.equigenitalis. Current regulations can be obtained through the Canadian Automated Import Reference System.
02/18/2009
Number of CEMO-positive Animals Increases; Canada Finalizes Semen Import Regulations
The number of CEMO-positive animals has increased in the past few days with test results indicating that there was an additional stallion in Wisconsin that showed positive for the presence of T. equigenitalis. A mare has also tested positive for presence, the mare having been bred live-cover to one of the previously identified infected stallions. This brings the total number of positive animals to 11 stallions, and one mare. The OIE shows 547 susceptible animals, while the USDA reports 524 horses in 45 States, with 25 exposed mares still being actively sought.
After a brief delay, CFIA has reported implementation of the import restrictions for semen originating from the USA. An import permit will be required, this permit being obtained from CFIA prior to the importation, and must accompany the shipment. The permit can be single-entry or multiple-entry, with the latter valid for 1 year. In the case of a single-entry import permit, the cost is Cdn$35, and the original must accompany the shipment. In the case of the multiple-entry permit, the cost is Cdn$60, and a copy may be used to accompany the shipment, but the original must be available for CBSA inspection if requested. Multiple-entry import permits are for shipments to a single location, although they can include semen from multiple donors. Our recommendation with cooled semen would be for the importer to purchase the marginally more-expensive multiple-import permit in case of failure of establishment of pregnancy on the first cycle.
In addition to the import permit, a USDA-issued "Zoosanitary Export Certificate for Semen" is required. This must be completed by an attending veterinarian, certifying the items mentioned previously - that "the donor stallion(s) have not been on a premises where T. equigenitalis has been isolated during the 60 days immediately preceding collection of the semen for export to Canada or a premises currently under quarantine or investigation for CEM" and that "the semen was processed using an extender that contains antibiotics effective against T. equigenitalis". As it appears that CFIA does not have a list of "antibiotics effective against T. equigenitalis", it must be presumed that the choice is open to the interpretation of the attending veterinarian, but that an antibiotic effective against gram-negative bacteria that is also sperm-compatible would be the choice. Some of these may include Amikacin sulfate, Gentamycin sulfate, "Timentin" and possibly Ticarcillin. Once completed by the attending veterinarian, the certificate must be endorsed by a USDA veterinarian. Semen must also be presented for importation "in individual receptacles or straws, each marked with the collection date, identity of the donor and the semen collection premises", although the containers do not have to be sealed by a USDA seal. There will have to be a separate USDA-issued "Zoosanitary Export Certificate for Semen" for each shipment of semen being sent to Canada. It is important to note that the CFIA instructions to CBSA observe: "***PLEASE NOTE THAT NONE OF THE SEMEN CONTAINER MUST BE OPENED. NO PHYSICAL INSPECTION TO BE DONE, ONLY DOCUMENTATION REVIEW.***
A Canada Customs Invoice or commercial invoice must also accompany the shipment that "must clearly indicate the product being imported, country of origin and end use".
Another point that is not completely clear is that it appears that as importation inspection has been delegated to CBSA (Canada Border Services Agency - formerly "Canada Customs") rather than CFIA (Canada Food Inspection Agency), there is no restriction on ports of entry other than that there be a CBSA agent available. There had been some previous discussion on some Internet bulletin boards that entry would be limited to CFIA ports of entry only or even more restricted, but as the only requirement is the CBSA presence, this would appear to be incorrect. It does note however that in some instances of non-matching paperwork etc. that the shipment should be referred to the CFIA vet, so there may be some as yet unspecified CBSA requirements for importation through a port of entry where a CFIA vet is available in some form.
More information and specific wording requirements are available through the CFIA AIRS system on line at http://airs-sari.inspection.gc.ca/Airs_External/Default.aspx
