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S T R ANG L E S
13
EQUINE MATTERS
Horse with Sweet Itch
'Strangles'
is an upper respiratory disease of the horse which most
horse-owners, even if they have not experienced an outbreak, will
almost certainly have heard of. Many owners, quite incorrectly, think
there is a stigma associated with the disease and this can hinder
quick diagnosis and effective control. Strangles is not caused by
poor horse husbandry or neglect - it is a respiratory infection.
Veterinary Surgeon
Colin Mitchell
XLVets Practice
Scott Mitchell
Associates, Hexham
Strangles is caused by a bacterium,
Streptococcus equi, which is spread from
horse to horse and via tools, equipment,
tack, owners and their clothing. Shared
water troughs are also a common source
of infection. In most cases, there are few
complications from the disease and most
horses make a full recovery. If a horse is
affected and then recovers, immunity will
usually last for approximately 3-4 years.
A small number, approximately 5-10%, of
those affected will become carriers of the
infection and intermittently shed the bacteria,
infect other horses and cause future outbreaks.
These carrier horses will usually not show any
clinical signs to identify them as carriers.
A less common form of the disease is seen
when the horse shows only milder signs such
as a raised temperature and loss of appetite.
Coughing is not usually a major feature of
infection.The signs seen and severity of
infection are related to the health and inherent
resistance of the individual rather than to the
variations in the bacterium itself.
Strangles
Update on
Colin Mitchell BVM&S CertEP MRCVS
Scott Mitchell Associates
An upper respiratory disease
Nasal discharge is often but not
always seen with strangles but can
have many other causes.
Clinical signs
Not all horses will show all the signs,
but some of the following symptoms
may be seen:
l
Raised body temperature
l
Nasal discharge
l
Off-colour/lack of appetite
l
Difficulty swallowing
l
‘Noisy’ breathing
l
Enlarged (and possibly painful) lymph
nodes between the horses lower jaw,
or, less commonly, under the ears
l
Abscesses draining pus