Central and Eastern Kentucky
(2009-11-10)
LEXINGTON
(WEKU) -
Veterinary scientists at the University of Kentucky Gluck Equine Center are working on ways to prevent a venereal disease from becoming a threat to breeding.
The central Kentucky thoroughbred breeding community has apparently been free of contagious Equine Metritis since an outbreak in the late 80's. However, Mats Troedsson, director of Equine Reproduction at Gluck, says a quarter horse in the bluegrass showed signs of the disease about a year ago. There have been no reported cases among thoroughbreds, but Troedsson says the possibility is a concern.
"If we have the disease uncontrolled in the country, it could affect, it could be carried over to the thoroughbred industry and again when natural breeding is the breeding technique then we will see the pregnancy losses again," Troedsson said.
Troedsson says the cases in quarter horses over the last year have been traced to the artificial insemination process. He says work continues on developing an easy, inexpensive screening test.
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