Strangles

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For other uses, see strangling.
This article is about a disease in equines also known as "distemper". For other diseases known as "distemper", see Distemper. For "puppy strangles", see Juvenile cellulitis.
blood agar
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Strangles (equine distemper) is a

bacterium, Streptococcus equi.[1] As a result, the lymph nodes swell, compressing the pharynx, larynx, and trachea, and can cause airway obstruction leading to death, hence the name strangles.[2] Strangles is enzootic in domesticated horses worldwide. The contagious nature of the infection has at times led to limitations on sporting events.[3]

Signs

Two-year-old pony with week-old case of untreated strangles
The swelling goes all the way down to the mouth

A horse with strangles typically develops abscesses in the lymph nodes of the head and neck, causing coughing fits and difficulty swallowing. Clinical signs include

fever up to 106°F and yellow-coloured nasal discharge from both the nose and eyes.[2]

Abscesses may form in other areas of the body, such as the abdomen, lungs, and brain.[1] This is considered a chronic form of strangles called "bastard strangles", which can have serious implications if the abscesses rupture. Horses develop this form of strangles when their immune systems are compromised or if the bacteria rapidly invade the body.[2]

Complications

Possible complications include the horse becoming a chronic carrier of the disease,

heart disease
. The average course of this disease is 23 days.

Cause

The disease is spread by an infected horse when nasal discharge or pus from the draining lymph nodes contaminate pastures, feed troughs, brushes, bedding, tack, etc.[2]

Prevention

Both intramuscular[4] and intranasal[5] vaccines are available, although their efficacy is rated at no more than 50%.[6] Isolation of new horses for four to six weeks, immediate isolation of infected horses, and disinfection of stalls, water buckets, feed troughs, and other equipment can help prevent the spread of strangles.[6] As with any contagious disease, hand washing is a simple and effective tool.[7]

Treatment

As with many streptococcal infections,

lymphatic
spread of the infection (bastard strangles), which has a much higher mortality rate.

After an abscess has burst, keeping the wound clean is important. A diluted povidone-iodine solution has been used with good results to disinfect the open hole, flushing the inside with a syringe-tipped catheter or with a teat cannula, followed by gentle scrubbing to keep the surrounding area clean.

Symptomatic therapy is an alternative treatment, and is where warm packs are used to mature the abscesses so making them less painful and more comfortable for the horse, but once the abscesses have been matured, they must be kept clean to prevent further infections. This treatment for S. equi only helps reduce pain for the horse rather than curing the infection.

Outcomes

Strangles has an 8.1%

morbidity is high. Precautions to limit the spread of the illness are necessary and those affected are normally isolated. An isolation period of 4–6 weeks is usually necessary to ensure that the disease is not still incubating
before ending the quarantine.

Epidemiology

Equines of any age may contract the disease, although younger and elderly equines are more susceptible. Young equines may lack immunity to the disease because they have not had prior exposure. Geriatric equines may have a weaker immune system.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Strangles in Horses". www.omafra.gov.on.ca. Archived from the original on 2019-10-30. Retrieved 2016-11-24.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Equine Strangles" (PDF). 2008. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
  3. ^ "Race club downplays 'strangles' impact". ABC.au News. 1 May 2012. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
  4. S2CID 219538289
    .
  5. PMID 19027152
    .
  6. ^
    PMID 29424487
    .
  7. S2CID 233854031
    .

External links

Look up strangles or bastard strangles in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
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