The bacterium that causes CEM can be transmitted through both natural mating and artificial insemination. | Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt/The Horse

Collaboration between government veterinary authorities and the equine industry has resulted in a new protocol in Great Britain for controlling any future outbreaks of the highly contagious venereal disease contagious equine metritis (CEM), which can cause subfertility in mares and establish chronic infections in stallions.

Any suspect CEM cases still must be reported to the British Animal and Plant Health Agency. However, under the new control arrangements, which took effect Feb. 1, owners of affected horses in England, Scotland, and Wales can use a private equine veterinary surgeon specifically approved to deal with the disease without official movement restrictions being imposed. These arrangements require compliance with the control measures outlined in the Horserace Betting Levy Board’s (HBLB) Code of Practice for CEM whilst all associated costs will continue to be covered by the owners of affected horses.

The CEM arrangements in Northern Ireland remain unchanged