Strangles causes respiratory problems, nasal discharge, and large pus-filled abscesses in horses’ throats and necks, among other issues. | Courtesy of the Animal Health Trust

Scientists from the Animal Health Trust (AHT), in Newmarket, U.K., the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, in Uppsala; the Karolinska Institute, in Stockholm, Sweden; and Intervacc AB, in Hägersten, Sweden, have developed and tested a new protein-based vaccine to protect horses from strangles. Caused by the bacteria called Streptococcus equi, strangles causes respiratory problems, nasal discharge, and large pus-filled abscesses in horses’ throats and necks, among other issues. With an estimated 600 outbreaks of strangles each year in the U.K. alone, the development of the new vaccine could benefit the health of horses around the world.

“We are delighted to have shown that our Strangvac vaccine protected over 80% of horses from this dreadful disease,” said Jan-Ingmar Flock, PhD, CEO of Intervacc AB, the company that produced the vaccine.

Andrew Waller, BSc, PhD, head of bacteriology at the AHT, added, “Strangvac is an extremely exciting vaccine. The vaccine was designed using information from sequencing the DNA of Streptococcus equi and highlights the potential that the genome-era heralds for improving the health of animals and people. Improving the health of horses is a core aim of the Animal Health Trust and we are proud to have helped make this vaccine a reality towards finally breaking the hold this disease currently has on our horses