Complaints indicating an outbreak of Streptococcus equi (strangles) in the area led the Animal Disease Control for the state’s Department of Agriculture to conduct an investigation in Davie, Fla. The investigation took place March 5 and included five premises in the area. Two of the premises were found to have no problems with strangles.

Of the remaining three premises, the one considered the index farm for the outbreak received 16 or 17 horses from Tennessee for consignment in a sale six to eight weeks ago, according to Dr. Bill Jeter, Assistant Bureau Chief of Animal Disease Control for the states. Upon arrival, five of the horses were sick. A couple of the horses developed clinical signs of strangles, while the others only showed signs of a respiratory illness. Six resident horses were infected.

One of the Tennessee horses which showed no signs of being infected at the time of the sale was sold to another farm in the area. That horse infected six or seven resident horses on the second premise. All horses were treated and have recovered. At the time of investigation, no active cases were found.

The last investigated premise had one case of strangles about a month ago. The horse was treated and has recovered. No active cases were found on that premise. This case was not linked to the index farm