Download Equine germplasm from Australia, Canada, the European Union and the USA - Final import risk analysis (December 2009)

The risk analysis examines the biosecurity risks associated with the importation of frozen semen and in vivo derived frozen embryos of horses, donkeys and zebras (collectively referred to as equine germplasm) from Australia, Canada, the European Union and the United States of America.

The disease agents considered were those in the hazard list of the risk analysis for horses and horse semen carried out in 2000. Organisms that are already present in New Zealand were excluded from further consideration. A number of organisms were excluded on the grounds that they are not transmitted in germplasm, including protozoa with complex life cycles, arthropod parasites, helminth parasites, and disease agents that are transmitted exclusively by arthropod vectors or helminth intermediates.

Thirteen exotic organisms or strains of organisms were identified as hazards and these were submitted to further detailed analysis. As a result, the risks were considered to be non-negligible for the following organisms: equine infectious anaemia virus, equine herpesvirus-1, equine arteritis virus, Borna disease virus, exotic Leptospira serovars, Taylorella spp., and exotic Salmonella serovars. These organisms were therefore classified as risks in the commodities, and options for the efficient management of the risk have been suggested.