Mare Reproductive Loss Syndrome (MRLS)
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Fertilization and Early Pregnancy Loss in Mares
One of the most important causes of embryo loss during early gestation is post-breeding endometritis.
Photo by Anne M. Eberhardt
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Proper Use of Antibiotics for Uterine Infections (AAEP 2011)
Ensure a bacterial infection that will respond to antibiotics is actually present before beginning treatment.
Photo by Anne M. Eberhardt
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Eastern Tent Caterpillar Outlook for Spring 2013
February 13, 2013
Experts report that the eastern tent caterpillar egg hatch will likely begin in mid-March in Central Kentucky.... Read More
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Fertilization and Early Pregnancy Loss in Mares
April 27, 2012
One of the most important causes of embryo loss during early gestation is post-breeding endometritis.... Read More
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Eastern Tent Caterpillar Egg Hatch Under Way in Central Ky.
March 24, 2012
Experts report that this year's Eastern tent caterpillar egg hatch is about a week ahead of average.... Read More
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Eastern Tent Caterpillars Hatching Earlier This Year
March 01, 2012
Research has proven the caterpillars caused outbreaks of mare reproductive loss syndrome (MRLS).... Read More
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Proper Use of Antibiotics for Uterine Infections (AAEP 2011)
February 01, 2012
Ensure a bacterial infection that will respond to antibiotics is actually present before beginning treatment.... Read More
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Time to Assess Eastern Tent Caterpillar Populations
April 21, 2011
Eastern tent caterpillars (ETC) were identified as the cause of foal loss during the mare reproductive loss syndrome outbreaks in 1999-2001. Over the last three years, ETC populations in Central Kentucky have been increasing gradually but there are ... Read More
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Eastern Tent Caterpillar Egg Hatch Under Way
March 21, 2011
Experts report that Eastern tent caterpillar eggs have begun hatching in Central Kentucky, just as leaf buds are swelling on wild cherry trees. While it is too early to tell what 2011 caterpillar numbers will be, populations have been increasing ... Read More
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Second Annual Breeders' Short Course Recap
January 27, 2011
The University of Kentucky College of Agriculture partnered with the University of Minnesota (U of M) to present the 2nd Annual Kentucky Breeders' Short Course held Jan. 21 and 22 in Lexington. The first day of the course was designed for ... Read More
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Equine Abortion of Unknown Cause
January 22, 2011
Pregnancy loss is relatively common in horses. Only 80% of mares bred give birth to a live foal at term. The loss of the developing foal (fetus) during gestation can fall under one of two categories: early embryonic loss, in which the loss of a fetus... Read More
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MRLS Research Stresses Possible Convergence of Climate, Management Factors
July 21, 2010
The cases of mare reproductive loss syndrome (MRLS) that Lexington, Ky., experienced in 2001 were a symptom of many issues converging, according to laboratory medicine specialist Jennifer Taylor of Melbourne, Australia. Taylor presented her findings ... Read More
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CEM: Lower-Cost Stallion Testing Continues
May 20, 2010
In an effort to show that Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM) does not exist or is at very low levels in the US equine horse population, the USDA is offering lower-cost testing to owners of active breeding stallions through August. It is part of a... Read More
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New Knowledge Comes Through New Research
April 25, 2010
Eastern tent caterpillars are numerous on our small central Kentucky farm this year. They have defoliated the spring leaf growth on most of the wild black cherry trees and are now crawling around in great numbers on board fences, stone walls, a... Read More
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Eastern Tent Caterpillar Egg Hatch Under Way, Numbers Up Again
April 23, 2010
Experts report Eastern tent caterpillars are hatching in central Kentucky in increasing numbers. "Some tents are the size of baseballs now, so they will be easy to see," said Lee Townsend, PhD, and University of Kentucky Co... Read More
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Eastern Tent Caterpillar Numbers Up Again
April 19, 2010
Experts in Kentucky report that eastern tent caterpillar numbers are up for the third consecutive year, although populations vary from location to location. According to Lee Townsend, University of Kentucky College of Agriculture entomologist, ... Read More
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MRLS Foal Losses in Kentucky Increased Slightly in 2009
August 12, 2009
Between May 5 and June 15, the Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center (LDDC) diagnosed 13 foal loss cases caused by mare reproductive loss syndrome (MRLS) in Central Kentucky. This number was up slightly from 2003-2008 when only three to five cases... Read More
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Kentucky Reports Mare Reproductive Loss Syndrome Cases
May 13, 2009
The University of Kentucky Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center (LDDC) reported today (May 13) that two fetal necropsy cases had findings consistent with mare reproductive loss syndrome (MRLS), the disease that in 2001-2002 in Kentucky caused an... Read More
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MRLS: Eastern Tent Caterpillar Numbers Up
March 25, 2009
Eastern tent caterpillars have begun hatching in Central Kentucky--and their population numbers are trending up. "Populations of the Eastern tent caterpillar have increased noticeably over the past three years," said Lee Townsend, PhD,... Read More
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Mare Reproductive Loss Syndrome Update
June 03, 2008
An abortigenic disease known as mare reproductive loss syndrome (MRLS ) significantly impacted the horse industry in the Ohio Valley in late April and early May, 2001 and 2002. In 2001, approximately 25% of all pregnant mares aborted within several... Read More
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MRLS: Caterpillar Population Up Sharply from 2007
May 09, 2008
Experts with the University of Kentucky (UK) report that Eastern tent caterpillars are now wandering in the area, and population levels are among the highest they've seen since the 2001, when mare reproductive loss syndrome (MRLS) hit Central... Read More
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MRLS: Tent Caterpillars Hatch in Central Kentucky
April 11, 2008
Experts have reported that Eastern tent caterpillars are developing normally this spring and have just completed the egg hatch stage. Controlling the caterpillars is vital to area horse farms, as University of Kentucky research has strongly linked... Read More
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MRLS: Eastern and Forest Tent Caterpillars Currently Feeding
April 06, 2007
The time is right for horse farms to implement control strategies. University of Kentucky experts report that eastern tent caterpillars and forest tent caterpillars are developing normally this spring with egg hatching complete and... Read More
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MRLS Cases Confirmed in New Jersey
September 01, 2006
A horse farm in Northern New Jersey experienced high abortion rates in early June in pastures where there was an abundance of Eastern tent caterpillars. Samples from those aborted fetuses were sent to the University of Kentucky's Livestock... Read More
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Researchers Contemplate Role of Vesiviruses in MRLS
July 12, 2006
Oregon State University (OSU) researchers announced last month that they linked vesiviruses to abortions seen during Central Kentucky's bout with mare reproductive loss syndrome in 2001 and concluded that vesivirus-specific reagents should be... Read More
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MRLS and Vesiviruses?
July 01, 2006
Oregon State University (OSU) researchers announced on June 23 that they linked vesiviruses to abortions seen during Central Kentucky's bout with mare reproductive loss syndrome (MRLS) in 2001 and concluded that vesivirus-specific reagents shoul... Read More
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MRLS Cases in New Jersey
June 30, 2006
A farm in Northern New Jersey experienced high abortion rates in early June in fields where there were Eastern tent caterpillars. Samples from those aborted fetuses were sent to the University of Kentucky's Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center fo... Read More
