The number of Colorado horses exposed to a highly contagious equine venereal disease has climbed to seven, a state agriculture department spokeswoman said.
Hold orders have been placed on the seven mares, which are being kept at five facilities. Agriculture spokeswoman Christi Lightcap said the holds are only until tests determine whether the mares have been infected.
Other horses in the facilities can come and go. The disease, contagious equine metritis, or CEM, is a bacterium that is transmitted through natural breeding or artificial insemination and not through casual contact or shared boarding areas.
CEM can result in temporary infertility. Stallions and mares can become chronic carriers, which can lead to further outbreaks. Lightcap said it may be a month or two before test results are available.
