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Strangles in Horses Strangles is one of those diseases that every horse owner has heard of but few have actual first hand knowledge of. Because of this, people may feel that vaccination against this disease is not critical. This is far from true. This disease is completely preventable through annual internasal vaccination with a highly effective, safe vaccine. This vaccine does not produce immunity quick enough to be protective once an outbreak begins. It is critical that vaccination be conducted when your horse is healthy and an outbreak of disease has begun.
Strangles is a highly contagious respiratory disease characterised by fever, depression, anorexia, pussy nasal discharge, cough and abcessation of the lymph nodes of the head and neck; and has been rated as amongst the most important endemic horse diseases by the equine industry.
An Australian study Strangles in Horses investigated the very early interactions between the horse and Streptococcus equi subsp. equi (the bacteria which causes Strangles), to identify the early developmental signs to enable improved control strategies and the ability to develop improved vaccines for prevention. (P.J. Canfield, D.N. Love, J.Rainger, G.D. Bailey, Strangles in Horses, RIRDC Project US - 24A, February 2000) The early changes identified by the study occur before the traditionally recognised Strangles signs of swelling of the lymph nodes of the head and neck; and before the excretion of organisms from the horse's nose. Signs for the early development of Strangles:
The study also found that nasal discharge and the excretion of Streptococcus equi subsp. equi are not necessarily associated. With some horses able to carry Strangles organisms, excreting them into the environment without showing any signs of nasal discharge or other signs of the disease, especially some time after infection. Recommendations for Strangles Control:
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