Equine Stangles Flashcards
Why is this disease called strangles?
This disease affects the lymph nodes in the throat area which can cause a strangling like effect.
What organism causes equine strangles?
Streptococcus equi
How is strangles transmitted?
Through contact with purulent discharges either direct contact or contact with contaminated fomites.
True or False: fomites play a large role in the spread of equine strangles.
True.
True or False: Strangles is only mildly contagious.
False. Equine strangles is highly contagious.
What age group is typically more frequently and severely affected and why?
Young horses, because they don’t have the strong resistance that adult horses have.
List some risk factors for strangles.
- Overcrowding
- Poor hygiene
- Concurrent disease
What are some types of concurrent diseases that may put a horse at risk for strangles?
- Viral respiratory infections
- Parasitism
When older horses contract strangles what usually happens?
They only get a mild form of the disease.
The morbidity rate for strangles is ______ (high/low)
High; up to 100% of animals on premises.
The mortality rate for strangles is ______ (high/low)
Low.
If there is an outbreak on a farm full of horses what should be done?
Any horses not showing signs during the outbreak should be removed and isolated.
What is the incubation period for equine strangles?
2 to 6 days
List 7 clinical signs of equine strangles.
- Depression, anorexia, fever
- Dry, painful, throaty cough
- Mandibular lymph node enlargement
- Abcessation of one or all of the lymph nodes of the head
- Head and chin down with the neck stretched
- Reluctance to swallow
- Mucopurulent ocular/nasal discharge
List the possible complications and serious sequlae.
- Empyema
- Bastard strangles
- Foal septicemia
- Purpura hemorrhagica
Define empyema.
Infection of the guttural pouches.
Where are guttural pouches located?
Connected to the Eustachian tubes
What is bastard strangles and why is this a problem?
The disseminated form of strangles. This is a problem because it spreads to the body cavities and once there is chronic and incurable.
What does septicemia mean?
That the organism is in the bloodstream.
What is Purpura hemorrhagica, basically?
An allergic reaction
What is the protocol for treatment of equine strangles?
- Isolation and rest are important
- Keep the horse warm and dry
- Wrap the legs
- Place hot packs on abscessed lymph nodes
- Open and drain abscesses
- Adm. Penicillin procaine G for 7 to 10 days if indicated
- Perform tracheostomy if indicated
What is the purpose of wrapping the legs?
To act as a support bandage of the lower part of the legs to prevent dependent edema in the legs
What is dependent edema also known as?
Stocking up
Why do you place hot packs on abscessed lymph nodes?
To improve drainage
When is Penicillin procaine G indicated?
- For nursing foals
- In severe acute cases (the young)
- For animals that require tracheostomy
What is done for dysphagia in the horse with strangles?
- Feed soft, moist, palatable feeds
- Feed by stomach tube
- Adm. I.V. fluids if necessary
When is tracheostomy indicated?
If the horse becomes dyspneic.
How is equine strangles diagnosed?
Either by:
- Presumptive diagnosis when a high fever with lymph node abscesses of the head and neck are present; or
- Definitive diagnosis with identification of Streptococcus equi via culture
When taking a culture for a definitive diagnosis of equine strangles, the sample should be taken from an infected lymph node that is not yet draining, why?
Because it gets contaminated with other bacteria while it is draining.
What are some ways to prevent equine strangles?
- Isolate any known contacts and sick animals
- Disinfect and steam sterilize stalls, water troughs, tack, grooming utensils, and etc..
- Vacate the premises and leave unused for a minimum of 4 weeks
- Vaccination
- Quarantine new arrivals for several weeks
True or False: Vaccination prevents infection.
False; Vaccination does not always prevent infection but does result in milder disease in infected horses.
When is vaccination of some benefit?
In herds in which the disease is endemic
How long do horses continue to shed bacteria after clinical signs resolve?
For at least 4 weeks.
