engleski

First report of Taylorella equigenitalis and Taylorella asinigenitalis natural infections in horses in Croatia

Equine population in Croatia has never been systematically tested for the presence of Taylorella equigenitalis, so the epidemiological situation is completely unknown. Both mares and stallions are tested for contagious equine metritis (CEM), but not often, usually only if they were bred abroad, and the owner of the animal they are being bred to requires they are tested. Testing is not mandatory even for licensed stallions. Out of these sporadic testings, no culture of T. equigenitalis has ever been obtained, but no molecular methods were used before 2014. During 2014, 12 animals (10 stallions and two mares) were tested, both by culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). All culture plates were either negative or got contaminated before the end of incubation period. Samples from three animals tested positive by PCR. Sequencing of PCR products revealed that one animal (a stallion) was positive for T. equigenitalis, and two animals were positive for T. asinigenitalis (one stallion and one mare). We report the first evidence of T. equigenitalis and T. asinigenitalis natural infections in horses in Croatia. Detecting T. equigenitalis by testing only 12 animals, suggests that incidence of infection in Croatia might be quite high. Furthermore, by detecting T. asinigenitalis in two out of 12 animals we can assume that its prevalence in equine population might also be high. Therefore, if animals are tested only by culture, in every case of positive result isolate has to be identified to the species level. This finding also suggests that equine population in Croatia, especially animals used for reproduction, should be tested for T. equigenitalis, and confirms findings of other authors, that testing only by culture is not reliable, and therefore, animals should be additionally tested with molecular methods.

Taylorella; horses; reproduction

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