|
Strangles is a bacterial infection of the upper respiratory tract caused by the bacteria streptococcus equi.
The condition usually affects horses between one and five years of age and infection occurs after inhaling or ingesting bacteria particles. |
Clinical Signs:
The clinical signs can vary in intensity but most animals have a yellow nasal discharge, cough, increased respiratory rate, are dull and depressed and off their food. Many horses will also get a swelling under the lower jaw, this is an abscess in the submandibular lymph nodes. |
Diagnosis:
A swab of an abscess, nasal discharge or from the back of the pharynx, pharyngeal swab, is required to culture the bacteria in a lab. |
Treatment:
Horses will usually recover in four weeks but antibiotics, penicillin, and anti-inflammatories are often used.
Affected horses should be isolated until four weeks after the clinical signs have resolved or until three negative swabs have been cultured each one week apart.
People and equipment can spread the infection so disinfection and barrier nursing, only one person handles affected horses, should be employed.
Once affected horses have recovered they have immunity against the bacteria for approximately four years. |
| |
Lameness
