DDx? 7 wk old foal with throat latch area swelling, dyspnea, stridor, mucopurulent nasal discharge, fever, tachypnea (6)
> Lymphadenopathy = bacterial (Strep), viral/inflam, neoplasia
Guttural pouch disease - tympany, empyema
Allergic reaction = previously sensitized older horses
Parotid gland inflammation
Severe lymphoid hyperplasia
Cyst
Goiter or thyroid tumor
Neoplasia
Diagnostics for suspected strangles
1) CBC
2) Rads
3) U/S
4) Tracheal fluid analysis and culture
5) Aspirate swelling
6) Chem panel = creatinine, albumin, Na+, K+, Cl-, TCO2 (proxy for bicarb) = previous renal damage (using aminoglycosides), acid-base
What happens with K+ during acidic and alkalotic processes?
Which is a less contaminated tracheal fluid sample - endoscopic or percutaneous?
Percutaneous
Initial treatment for strangles suspected animals
PaCO2 and PaO2 that may indicate hypoxemia and the need for a tracheostomy
- PaO2 < 80
Etiologic agent for “strangles” - who does it commonly affect?
> Strep equi var. equi
- Gram + B-hemolytic Strep
+ URT inflammation, LN abscessation, “bastard” or metastatic strangles
*Primarily affects foals and young horses
- Most horses develop immunity (4-5+ years)
Transmission, incubation period, and pathogenesis of “strangles”
Which provides better immunity - natural strangles infection or Strep vax?
Natural infection = generates mucosal cell-mediated and humoral immunity
Main pathogenic factor (what vax and diagnostic testing targets) for strangles
SeM protein = anti-phagocytic
Diagnosis of strangles
What should you not do if your strangles serology/titers show up as > 1:3200
DO NOT VACCINATE for strangles - may induce immune mediated vasculitis (purpura hemorrhagica)
What can serology of strangles do for you?
> ELISA for SeM protein
Which strangle-horse situations do and don’t we treat with antimicrobials?
> DON’T TREAT? Let natural disease progress
> TREAT?
- Any horse with signs of compromise - fever, ongoing throat latch or LN enlarging, anorexia, dyspnea
+/- Horses exposed to strangles to prevent “seeding” of lymph nodes
- Purpura hemorrhagic + corticosteroids
- Bastard strangles
How do we treat uncomplicated strangles cases?
How do we treat purpura hemorrhagica?
High levels of antimicrobials + corticosteroids (decrease immune mediated vasculitis with Ag+Ab)
Prevention of strangles
What can you monitor if you are nervous an exposed horse will develop strangles?
Watch for a fever
How do we confirm a “cure” of strangles?
Three consecutive weekly PCR and culture by nasal swab or nasopharyngeal wash
If + = confirm source, Ex: guttural pouch wash
Is it a good idea to vaccinate in the face of a strangles outbreak?
No - could trigger purpura
Who do we vax and not vax?
Which type of vaccine has been associated with purpura hemorrhagica?
Strangles extract vax
Similarities and differences between Strep equi and Strep zoo
+ BOTH = fever, nasal discharge, LN enlargment
Dx? 4 mo colt, cough, nasal discharge, abnormal bronchovesicular lung sounds, wheezes, crackles, fluid sounds in trachea, fever, tachypnea
Pneumonia - bacterial (Strep, R. equi)
Others = post-viral bronchiolitis, parasitic pneumonia (ascarids), inflammatory airway disease (wouldn’t have systemic signs)