A Human Case of an Infection by the Pathogenic Streptococci that Causes “Strangles” in Horses.

This research article presents a rare case of a human contracting strangles, an infection normally found in horses, and how it was successfully treated without surgical intervention. The study also emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis and the use of correct antibiotics.

What is Strangles and Its Zoonotic Transmission

• Strangles is predominantly an equine disease, which means it commonly infects horses. It is a highly contagious infection of the upper respiratory tract, cause by a bacterium.
• This disease is of a rare kind categorized as zoonotic transmission, indicating that it can be passed from animals to humans. While it primarily affects horses, in some rare occurrences, it can also infect humans, as highlighted by the presented case.
• Given the zoonotic nature of Strangles, it was noted in the study that clinicians should be aware of such diseases, to prevent any delay in diagnosis or a poor prognosis.

Presented Case of Human Strangles Infection and Treatment

• The research focuses on a rare case where an elderly patient was diagnosed with strangles. In this instance, the disease further complicated into bacteraemia (presence of bacteria in the blood), osteomyelitis (infection in the bone), and native valve endocarditis (inflammation of the inner layer of the heart).
• Despite the complications, the patient was successfully treated using appropriate antibiotics, without the need for surgical intervention. This reinforces the significance of prompt and accurate diagnosis, and the effectiveness of antibiotic treatment in managing infections such as strangles, even when there are associated complications.

Conclusions and Implications

• While Strangles is predominantly a disease in horses, the potential for it to infect humans underscores the necessity for proper history taking and comprehensive assessment in clinical settings. This practice will contribute significantly in diagnosing rare zoonotic diseases as early as possible.
• This study further underscores the importance of using correct antibiotics to manage such infections. Correct use of antibiotics can not only treat the disease, but also avoid the need for surgical interventions in some cases.