Strangles

Question 1

CS (6)

Answer 1

• pyrexia (3-14 days after progression)
• inappetence (due to pharyngeal inflammation/CN destruction)
• lethargy
• nasal discahrge (serous –> purulent
• lymphadenopathy

less common: noisy respiration, reduced airflow through nostrils, painful pharynx palpation

Question 2

Disease (3)

Answer 2

shedding of S. equi begins 2-3 days after fever onset

• shedding persists for 2-3 weeks
• guttural puch infection is common adn can prolong recovery (6 weeks)

Question 3

Dx

• methods (3)
• negative vs positive
• ELISA

Answer 3

• direct aspiration from LNs & PCR
• Nasal/nasopharyngeal swab
• saline lavage of guttural puches (culture and PCR/antibody ELISA)

only assumed negative if BOTH culture & PCR is negative

ELISA must be done in pairs
positive ELISA only means an animal has seroconverted sometime previously: a rising Ab titre show the existence of active infection

Question 4

Tx (4)

Answer 4

anti-inflamatories

• hot packing of LNs promotes maturation (lance and drain)
• NO ABsunless systemically unwell/ use at first sign of pyrexia
• nursing care

Question 5

sequelae to strangles (4)

Answer 5

• disseminated abscessation (bastard strangles): mediational/mesenertic LN involvemnt (septic pleuritis if rupture) or liver/kindey/spleen/synovial membranes/brain involvement (peritonitis if rupture)
• chronic weightloss
• recurrent colic
• recurrent peritonitis

Question 6

guttural pouch involvement

how
what
tx (4)

Answer 6

• if retropharyngeal LN ruptures
• needs to accumulate before it drains (bathtub)
• guttural empyaema is normally short lived
• chronic empyaema develops in 10% (eventual inspissation of pus adn chondroid formation)

Empyaema Tx:

• drainage and lavage
• instillation of gelatin/penicillin G mixture
• systemic ABs
• remove chondroids with endoscope

Question 7

Outbreak control (4)

Answer 7

• prompt isolation
• strict hygiene principles
• quarantine for 21 days (minimum of 10m from other horses)
• yard reopens 6 weeks after no new clinical cases