A horse at a farm in Jackson County, Kansas, has been diagnosed with strangles, as confirmed by the attending veterinarian. The horse is currently in voluntary quarantine.
EDCC Health Watch, a marketing program by Equine Network, utilizes information from the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) to create and share verified equine disease reports. The EDCC is a nonprofit organization supported by industry donations, providing open access to infectious disease information.
About Strangles
Strangles in horses is caused by Streptococcus equi subspecies equi and is transmitted through direct contact with infected equids or contaminated surfaces. Infected horses can spread the bacteria even if they are not showing clinical signs, and recovered horses can remain contagious for up to six weeks, potentially causing long-term outbreaks.
Clinical signs of strangles in horses include fever, swollen or abscessed lymph nodes, nasal discharge, coughing or wheezing, muscle swelling, and difficulty swallowing. Veterinarians diagnose the disease using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing and treat cases based on clinical signs, with antibiotics being used for severe cases. Most horses recover fully within three to four weeks, but overuse of antibiotics can hinder immunity development.
Although a vaccine is available, it is not always effective. Implementing biosecurity measures such as quarantining new horses and maintaining high standards of hygiene can help lower the risk of outbreaks or contain them when they occur.