Strangles
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2008-06-05T15:39:06Z
TShilo12
153537
/* Prevention */ the victim's name is not encyclopedia fodder...
{{Cleanup|date=March 2008}}
: ''Strangles may also refer to [[strangling]]''
'''Strangles''' (also '''equine distemper''') is a [[Disease#Transmission of disease|contagious]], [[upper respiratory tract infection]] of horses and other [[equidae|equines]] caused by a [[bacterium]], ''[[Streptococcus]] equi''. Strangles is [[Endemic (epidemiology)|enzootic]] in domesticated [[horse]]s worldwide.
==Biology==
The disease is spread when the nasal discharge or material from the draining abscess contaminates pastures, barns, feed troughs, etc.
Equines of any age may contract the disease, although younger and elderly equines are more susceptible. Young equines may lack immunity because they have not had prior exposure. Elderly equines may have a weaker immune system.
==Signs and symptoms==
Clinical signs and symptoms include [[pyrexia|fever]], heavy [[Nasal cavity|nasal]] discharge, and swollen or enlarged [[lymph node]]s in the neck and jaw ([[mandible]]). Affected animals may also stop eating and have a dull affect.
[[Mortality rate|Mortality]] may be up to 1 in 10 horses affected with strangles, especially bastard strangles. For cases without complications, mortality is usually lower. The disease is very contagious and [[morbidity]] is high. Precautions to limit the spread of the illness are necessary and those affected are normally isolated. An isolation period of 6 weeks is usually necessary to ensure that the disease is not still incubating before ending the isolation.
==Treatment==
As with many streptococcal infections, [[penicillin]] or penicillin-derivative antibiotics are the most effective treatments. However, some authorities are of the opinion that use of antibiotics are contra-indicated once abscesses have begun to form, as they pre-dispose to lymphatic spread of the infection (so-called '''bastard strangles''') which has a much higher mortality rate.
After an abscess has burst, it is very important to keep the wound clean. A diluted [[povidone-iodine]] solution has been used with good results to disinfect the open hole, flushing the inside with a syringe tipped with a [[teat]] [[cannula]], followed by gentle scrubbing to keep the surrounding area clean.
==Complications==
Possible complications include the horse becoming a chronic carrier of the disease, asphyxia due to enlarged lymph nodes compressing the larynx or windpipe, '''bastard strangles''' (spreading to other areas of the body), [[pneumonia]], [[guttural pouch]]es filled with pus, [[abscess]]es, [[purpura hemorrhagica]], and [[heart disease]]. The average length for the course of this disease is 23 days.
==Prevention==
Both intramuscular and intranasal vaccines are available. Isolation of new horses for 4 to 6 weeks, immediate isolation of infected horses, and disinfection of stalls, water buckets, feed troughs, and other equipment will help prevent the spread of strangles. As with any contagious disease, handwashing is a simple and effective tool.
<gallery>
Image:Pony with strangles.JPG|Two-year-old pony with week-old strangles. He's completely wild and therefore hard to treat.
Image:Odin strangles from the side.JPG|Note the swelling goes all the way down to his mouth.
<!-- Deleted image removed: Image:Odin burst abscesses.JPG|Several days later and some of his abscesses have burst. -->
</gallery>
<gallery>
<!-- Deleted image removed: Image:Dante strangles swollen lymph nodes.JPG|Eight-year-old Thoroughbred Dante's swollen lymph nodes. -->
</gallery>
==See also==
*[[Distemper]]
== External links==
*[http://www.horsevet.co.uk/strangles.php Strangles information sheet]
*[http://www.cyberhorse.net.au/csl/strangles.htm Strangles vaccination options]
*[http://www.acvim.org/uploadedFiles/Consensus_Statements/Strangles.pdf American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine consensus statement on Strangles]
*[http://www.extension.org/pages/Strangles_in_horses Strangles in Horses from eXtension]
[[Category:Horse diseases]]
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[[es:Streptococcus equi]]
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[[ja:腺疫]]
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