May/June 2025 Issue

EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN May/June 2025 Page 29 Tell our advertisers you found them in East Coast Equestrian! Texas A&M Press Release The Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laborato- ry, TVMDL, advises strangles cases, caused by the bacterium Streptococcus equi subspe- cies equi, typically peak in the spring, so now is a good time for folks to be thinking about prevention. Horses of all ages can be infected, but younger horses are especially vulnerable. Since strangles is highly contagious, strict isolation is the first step in preventing further outbreaks. Horses infected or sus- pected of being infected should immediately be isolated from others. Infected horses should not be taken to public events, and no horses should enter a contaminat- ed facility. Although the mortality rate for strangles is low, the disease can develop into more complicat- ed problems if untreated. In rare cases, the infection may spread to other parts of the body, affecting major organs. Signs of Infection “Know the signs,” said Semira Mancill, DVM, TVM- DL veterinary diagnostician and theriogenologist. “Horses may be contagious even before showing signs, so early detection is key.” Symptoms of strangles include fever, a thick nasal discharge, difficulty swallowing, swelling and abscesses under the jaw. The disease is called stran- gles because the swelling can obstruct a horse’s airway, causing difficulty breathing. Usually, infected horses will feel sick for a few weeks, experiencing respira- tory issues and discomfort. Testing Options TVMDL performs PCR tests and bacterial cultures to detect strangles. A positive result from a PCR test indicates that the DNA of Streptococcus equi subspecies equi is present, meaning the horse is likely infected or a carrier. This specific and sensitive test option provides quick results in a day or two. The PCR test differentiates between Streptococcus equi sub- species equi and Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus, which are two closely related bacteria. As an alternative, results from bacterial culture take longer, but a positive result confirms the presence of live bacteria. In this case, the horse is certainly shedding the infectious materi- al. This method will determine whether the bacteria are actively replicating. Recovering from Strangles Strangles spreads through direct contact with infected horses. The disease can also be transmit- ted indirectly through contact with surfaces contaminated with Strep- tococcus equi subspecies equi. Barn equipment, including feed and water buckets com- Preventing Strangles in Horses Through Diagnostic Testing monly contain infectious agents. Human hands and clothing may also harbor the bacterium. Some horses may still carry bacteria without showing symp- toms. These are called asymp- tomatic carriers. “Horses that have had strangles should be tested several weeks after symptoms resolve to confirm that they are no longer shedding bacteria,” Mancill said. “Carrier horses can be a hidden source of infection, so this step is essential for disease control.” After an outbreak is dis- covered, the facility should be thoroughly cleaned. All organic material should be removed from surfaces. All water buck- ets, troughs, feeders, fences, stalls, tack and trailers should be disinfected with a diluted bleach solution, allowing plenty of time to dry before they are used again. (Continued on page 32)