COMBATTING AN UPTICK IN STRANGLES

Strangles, technically referred to as Streptococcus equi subspecies equi, is a common highly contagious bacterial infection. A recent study shows cases of strangles are increasing. Help protect your horse from this ubiquitous disease by learning the signs and strategies for decreasing the likelihood of infection.

How Horses Are Infected

• While no regional differences were observed, strangles is more common in the spring and winter (though positive cases were reported during all four seasons).1

• Strangles is spread through direct contact with infected horses, contaminated surfaces and food and water sources.

• Infected horses can spread disease without showing clinical signs.

• Horses can shed the disease for an undetermined period of time, infecting other horses even after clinical signs have resolved.

Signs of Infection

Signs of strangles are similar to those of other upper respiratory infections, so be sure to work with your veterinarian to get a diagnosis to determine appropriate treatment and isolation measures.1

• Fever (may precede other signs by 24 – 48 hours)

• Abscesses in throatlatch and below the jaw (the mandibular lymph nodes)

• Nasal discharge (often thick white/yellow mucus)

• Swelling of the throat

• Difficulty swallowing

• Wheezing

• Cough

How Strangles Is Diagnosed

Diagnosis is performed with nasal swab/lavage or pus from abscess submitted to a laboratory for polymerase-chain reaction (PCR) testing and/or bacterial culture.

Recovery

• Strangles is rarely fatal, with most horses fully recovering in three to four weeks with few complications.

• Antibiotics may be used in severe cases, but most horses recover without them.

• Recovered horses can become carriers and shed the bacteria intermittently.

• Infected horses may develop long-term immunity.

Ways to Help Prevent an Outbreak

While isolation of horses with strangles remains the best method to prevent disease spread, there are biosecurity measures you can take to help prevent it before a case occurs.

• Isolate all new horses, as well as those horses returning from travel at least 7 to 14 days.

• Avoid nose-to-nose contact among horses.

• Check temperatures at least once daily, preferably twice (normal = 99o – 101o F).

• Isolate any horse with elevated temperature and/or unprovoked coughing.

• Do not share tack, water buckets or feed sources.

• Practice good hand hygiene (hand sanitizers in absence of soap and water).

• Clean and disinfect hauling equipment like trailers after each use.