Horse News & Views - August 2009

• The first months of 2009 have been interesting for horse disease outbreaks. Import restrictions were placed on:
  • horses, because of piroplasmosis, when first diagnosed in Florida and now in Missouri;
  • horses and horse germplasm (semen and embryos), because of the ongoing North-American-wide investigation into contagious equine metritis (CEM). Sixteen Ontario mares and one stallion were identified as being potentially infected with CEM as a result of insemination with potentially imported, infected semen in the 2008 breeding season. As a precaution, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has quarantined animals on the farms, and these measures will remain in place until all potentially exposed mares and their foals have tested negative for CEM; and
  • horses coming from New Mexico and Texas due to vesicular stomatitis.
    
    

  With a very mobile horse population, horse owners should incorporate biosecurity measures to prevent diseases from entering their premises into their daily procedures. Refer to the factsheet, Biosecurity for Horse Farms, for more information.

  Before crossing into or returning from the US, horse owners are advised to contact CFIA for updates. Contact your district office or the Ontario Regional office, (519) 837-9400.