Reports have confirmed a case of strangles in a horse in Washington County, Nebraska, with another horse at the same facility suspected to be positive and two horses exposed. In Sarpy County, Nebraska, 12 horses are showing symptoms of strangles, including nasal discharge, swollen lymph nodes, fever, lethargy, depression, and breathing difficulties due to swelling.
All affected horses are currently in quarantine to prevent the spread of the disease.
EDCC Health Watch is a marketing program by Equine Network that uses information from the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) to provide verified equine disease reports. The EDCC is a nonprofit organization supported by industry donations to offer open access to infectious disease information.
About Strangles
Strangles is caused by Streptococcus equi subspecies equi and spreads through direct contact with infected equids or contaminated surfaces. Even horses without symptoms can carry and transmit the bacteria, and recovered horses can remain contagious for up to six weeks, potentially causing long-term outbreaks.
Common clinical signs of strangles in horses include fever, swollen lymph nodes with abscesses, nasal discharge, coughing or wheezing, muscle swelling, and difficulty swallowing.
Veterinarians typically diagnose strangles using PCR testing with nasal swabs, washes, or abscess samples, and treatment is based on clinical signs, with antibiotics used for severe cases. Overuse of antibiotics can hinder the development of immunity in infected horses, but most recover fully within three to four weeks.
Although a vaccine is available, its effectiveness can vary. Implementing biosecurity measures such as quarantining new horses and maintaining high levels of hygiene and surface disinfection can help lower the risk of an outbreak or contain it if one occurs. Learn more about protecting your horse from strangles here.