True? Excised Clitoris as CEM Prevention?

[Ben and Me]

Several sinuses of varying depth invade the glans [of the clitoris]. These may harbor the organism responsible for contagious equine metritis and, on this account, the clitoris must be partially excised in brood mares intended for importation into the United States.

Hi! I'm studying for my anatomy final and came across the above passage in my text, Veterinary Anatomy by Dyce, Sack and Wensing. I have the most recent edition of the book, published in 2002.

I'd never heard of this, even in all the articles this spring and summer re: the CEM outbreak, but I'm not much of a breeding expert, so I didn't know if protocols had changed with new technology, new testing, etc. This won't be on my test, but I'm curious just for my own info!

Thanks!

[atr]

Certainly was true 15 years ago when I moved here from the UK. I had two mares that I would have liked to bring with me, but my own vet refused to do this at the time, and it made me queasy anyway. So they both had to find new homes.

[clint]

I had a Hanoverian mare who had that done. She died in her mid-twenties last year, and according to my vet, it isn't done anymore.

[Trakehner]

When I first read this I thought it was a tough solution to a rider's problem...Ow!

[Equine Reproduction]

Hi! I'm studying for my anatomy final and came across the above passage in my text, Veterinary Anatomy by Dyce, Sack and Wensing. I have the most recent edition of the book, published in 2002.

I'd never heard of this, even in all the articles this spring and summer re: the CEM outbreak, but I'm not much of a breeding expert, so I didn't know if protocols had changed with new technology, new testing, etc. This won't be on my test, but I'm curious just for my own info!

Thanks!

It's not done anymore. Makes your eyes water at the thought though, huh?! As part of importation/exportation the clitoral fossa of mares are swabbed and tested for CEM. And when a stallion is imported, he is bred live cover to two mares and those mares are swabbed for the pathogen.

Hope that helps!

[Ben and Me]

Thanks for the info, everyone! It certainly seemed archaic... Glad to know what the current testing procedure is - thanks Kathy!