Equine Pathology Workbook

Treatment of equine coital exanthema includes sexual rest, the isolation of the affected individual and the topical application of antibiotic ointments.

Contagious Equine Metritis

As in the mare contagious equine metritis is caused by the Gram-negative bacteria Taylorella (Haemophilus) equigenitalis . In the stallion the bacteria lives on the surface of the epithelium of the penis and the prepuce, but does not the cells to cause infection or inflammation. . Bacterial populations are also found in the of the prepuce and the urethral fossa. Animals used for breeding, especially those bred using live cover are at increased risk of contracting contagious equine metritis. , but are the primary disease reservoir and coitus is the primary vector of transmission. Contact between infected stallion and the genital mucosa of a mare may result in the transmission of disease. Stallions do not develop Stallions are identified as of contagious equine metritis through the culture of swabs taken from the preputal cavity, the shaft of the penis or the urethral fossa that show the presence of the contagious equine metritis organism. Culture may also be made from samples of the pre-ejaculatory fluid or the ejaculate. Treatment includes the thorough washing of the penis and prepuce with chlorahexadine soap and the application of nitrofurazone ointment daily for a minimum of five days. The stallion should be given for sexual rest from the time of diagnosis to ten days post treatment. The washing of stallions with warm water and mild, non-spermicidal soap before coitus may reduce the risk of transmission.

Dourine

As in the mare dourine is an exotic venereal disease.

Dourine is caused by the

Trypanosoma equiperdum . It is considered a blood

parasite though it affects epithelial tissue.

The protozoa are transmitted to the genital epithelial tissue through coitus with an infected individual. The protozoa then enter the blood supply through the vessels feeding the genitalia. Once in the circulation the protozoa spread throughout the body infecting epithelial tissue systemically.

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