Prevalence of Taylorella equigenitalis in Icelandic mares and geldings in Southern Germany and Austria.
Authors: Solbach Veronika, Grabatin Markus, Zablotski Yury, Fux Robert, Zerbe Holm, Witte Tanja Semira
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary: T. equigenitalis Prevalence in Icelandic Horses in Central Europe Contagious Equine Metritis, caused by *Taylorella equigenitalis*, poses a significant biosecurity risk to breeding programmes worldwide, particularly given previous findings of elevated infection rates in Icelandic stallions used for natural breeding. Solbach and colleagues screened 361 Icelandic horses across Southern Germany and Austria using quantitative PCR, stratifying results by sex and reproductive status to identify risk factors and potential reservoirs for the pathogen. Overall prevalence reached 14.4%, but distribution was markedly skewed: brood mares showed only 2.2% positivity, maiden mares 9.0%, whilst geldings demonstrated substantially higher rates at 36.2%—a difference emphasised by significantly lower cycle threshold (Ct) values in geldings, suggesting higher bacterial loads. The marked odds ratios (40.1 for brood mares and 9.5 for maiden mares compared to geldings) indicate sex-based susceptibility or exposure patterns that warrant investigation, whilst age alone did not predict infection status, though younger positive horses exhibited higher bacterial burdens. For practitioners managing breeding programmes or handling Icelandic stock, these findings highlight geldings as a potential asymptomatic reservoir requiring targeted screening protocols, particularly where contact with mares occurs, and underscore the need for cautious introduction of Icelandic genetics into naive populations without rigorous pre-breeding health certification.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Icelandic geldings should be considered a potential source of T. equigenitalis infection and may require screening protocols before use in breeding programs or mixed herds
- •Brood mares have very low infection rates (2.2%) but maiden mares show moderately higher prevalence (9.0%), suggesting possible infection routes to investigate
- •Test-positive geldings with lower Ct values likely carry higher bacterial loads and pose greater transmission risk; consider isolation or treatment protocols for breeding operations
Key Findings
- •Overall prevalence of T. equigenitalis was 14.4% in 361 Icelandic horses in Southern Germany and Austria
- •Geldings had significantly higher prevalence (36.2%) compared to brood mares (2.2%) and maiden mares (9.0%)
- •Geldings had significantly lower Ct values than both brood and maiden mares, indicating higher bacterial loads
- •Icelandic geldings may serve as a reservoir for T. equigenitalis transmission