Late this spring a 23rd stallion in the United States was found to be infected with the contagious equine metritis-causing organism Taylorella equigenitalis, according to a news release from the Office of the (KY) State Veterinarian.

This 23rd stallion is located in Wisconsin and epidemiologically linked to the previous outbreak that traces to a Wisconsin facility, the release stated.

Available information leads the Office of State Veterinarian to conclude that stallions with a history of having been collected or used for breeding in Wisconsin (including imported stallions clearing CEM quarantine in WI) do pose identified risks of introducing the CEM-causing organism Taylorella equigenitalis to Kentucky.

In response to this identified risk, the Office of State (KY) Veterinarian will continue requiring that stallions entering Kentucky from Wisconsin for breeding purposes (live cover or collection) be cultured negative for CEM-causing bacterium and enter the state with an entry permit issued by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture