Strangles in Two Kansas Counties

The affected horses reside in Wyandotte and Miami counties.
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Maps showing counties with confirmed cases of Strangles in Ohio, Michigan, and Florida
Two horses in Kansas, residing in Wyandotte and Miami counties, have been confirmed positive for strangles. | Wikimedia Commons

Strangles has been confirmed in two counties in Kansas. In Wyandotte County, a 3-year-old Thoroughbred gelding developed clinical signs on February 25, including fever, nasal discharge, lethargy and inappetence. The horse was confirmed positive for strangles on March 1 and quarantined for three weeks. Ultimately, the horse was euthanized due to an unrelated neurological issue.

In Miami County, a 13-year-old mare was confirmed positive on April 12 after developing clinical signs on April 6, including fever and nasal discharge. The horse had moved to the facility nine days prior. The horse is now isolated, and it is unknown how many horses at the boarding facility are exposed.

 

EDCC Health Watch is an Equine Network marketing program that utilizes information from the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) to create and disseminate verified equine disease reports. The EDCC is an independent nonprofit organization that is supported by industry donations in order to provide open access to infectious disease information.

About Strangles

Strangles in horses is an infection caused by Streptococcus equi subspecies equi and spread through direct contact with other equids or contaminated surfaces. Horses that aren’t showing clinical signs can harbor and spread the bacteria, and recovered horses remain contagious for at least six weeks, with the potential to cause outbreaks long-term.

Infected horses can exhibit a variety of clinical signs:

  • Fever
  • Swollen and/or abscessed lymph nodes
  • Nasal discharge
  • Coughing or wheezing
  • Muscle swelling
  • Difficulty swallowing

Veterinarians diagnose horses using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing with either a nasal swab, wash, or an abscess sample, and they treat most cases based on clinical signs, implementing antibiotics for severe cases. Overuse of antibiotics can prevent an infected horse from developing immunity. Most horses make a full recovery in three to four weeks.

A vaccine is available but not always effective. Biosecurity measures of quarantining new horses at a facility and maintaining high standards of hygiene and disinfecting surfaces can help lower the risk of outbreak or contain one when it occurs.

Brought to you by Boehringer Ingelheim, The Art of the Horse

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