Strangles

Strangles

: "Strangles may also refer to strangling"

Strangles (also equine distemper) is a contagious, upper respiratory tract infection of horses and other equines caused by a bacterium, "Streptococcus equi". Strangles is enzootic in domesticated horses worldwide.

Biology

The disease is spread when the nasal discharge or material from the draining abscess contaminates pastures, barns, feed troughs, etc.

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

igns and symptoms

Clinical signs and symptoms include fever, heavy nasal discharge, and swollen or enlarged lymph nodes in the neck and jaw (mandible). Affected animals may also stop eating and have a dull affect.

Mortality may be up to 1 in 10 horses affected with strangles, especially bastard strangles. For cases without complications, mortality is usually lower. The disease is very contagious and morbidity is high. Precautions to limit the spread of the illness are necessary and those affected are normally isolated. An isolation period of 6 weeks is usually necessary to ensure that the disease is not still incubating before ending the isolation.

Treatment

As with many streptococcal infections, penicillin or penicillin-derivative antibiotics are the most effective treatments. However, some authorities are of the opinion that use of antibiotics are contra-indicated once abscesses have begun to form, as they pre-dispose to lymphatic spread of the infection (so-called bastard strangles) which has a much higher mortality rate.

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

Complications

Possible complications include the horse becoming a chronic carrier of the disease, asphyxia due to enlarged lymph nodes compressing the larynx or windpipe, bastard strangles (spreading to other areas of the body), pneumonia, guttural pouches filled with pus, abscesses, purpura hemorrhagica, and heart disease. The average length for the course of this disease is 23 days.

Prevention

Both intramuscular and intranasal vaccines are available. Isolation of new horses for 4 to 6 weeks, immediate isolation of infected horses, and disinfection of stalls, water buckets, feed troughs, and other equipment will help prevent the spread of strangles. As with any contagious disease, handwashing is a simple and effective tool.

ee also

*Distemper

External links

* [http://www.horsevet.co.uk/strangles.php Strangles information sheet]
* [http://www.cyberhorse.net.au/csl/strangles.htm Strangles vaccination options]
* [http://www.acvim.org/uploadedFiles/Consensus_Statements/Strangles.pdf American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine consensus statement on Strangles]
* [http://www.extension.org/pages/Strangles_in_horses Strangles in Horses from eXtension]


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Strangles — Stran gles, n. A disease in horses and swine, in which the upper part of the throat, or groups of lymphatic glands elsewhere, swells. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • strangles — [straŋ′gəlz] n. a disease of young horses caused by a bacterial infection (Streptococcus equi) and characterized by inflammation of the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract and by the formation of abscesses in the adjacent lymph nodes …   English World dictionary

  • strangles — noun plural but singular or plural in construction Etymology: plural of obsolete strangle act of strangling Date: circa 1706 an infectious febrile disease of horses caused by a streptococcus (Streptococcus equi) and marked especially by… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • strangles — /strang geuhlz/, n. (used with a sing. v.) Vet. Pathol. distemper1 (def. 1b). [1590 1600; obs. strangle act of strangling + S3] * * * ▪ horse disease       horse disease caused by Streptococcus equi, a bacterium that invades nasal and throat… …   Universalium

  • strangles — stran·gles gəlz n pl but sing or pl in constr an infectious febrile disease of horses and other equines that is caused by a bacterium of the genus Streptococcus (S. equi), is characterized by inflammation and congestion of mucous membranes and a… …   Medical dictionary

  • strangles — stran·gle || stræŋgl v. choke to death, throttle by compressing the windpipe and preventing the intake of air, asphyxiate; stifle, suppress …   English contemporary dictionary

  • strangles — plural noun [usu. treated as sing.] bacterial infection of the upper respiratory tract of horses, causing enlarged lymph nodes in the throat …   English new terms dictionary

  • strangles — stran·gles …   English syllables

  • strangles — stran•gles [[t]ˈstræŋ gəlz[/t]] n. (used with a sing. v.) vet distemper I, 1), b) • Etymology: 1590–1600; obs. strangle act of strangling + s III …   From formal English to slang

  • strangles — n.pl. (usu. treated as sing.) an infectious streptococcal fever, esp. affecting the respiratory tract, in a horse, ass, etc. Etymology: pl. of strangle (n.) f. STRANGLE …   Useful english dictionary

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