Elimination of guttural pouch infection and inflammation in asymptomatic carriers of Streptococcus equi.
Abstract: Three protracted outbreaks of strangles were investigated using endoscopic examination and a total of 14 asymptomatic carriers of Streptococcus equi were identified of which 13 showed evidence of carriage in the guttural pouch. Treatment was initiated to eliminate S. equi colonisation since these animals posed an infectious risk to susceptible horses. Two further horses were referred to us with severe guttural pouch pathology and from which S. equi was cultured, and treatment of these cases is also described. Treatment in the first instance was directed towards removal of gross guttural pouch pathology as seen on endoscopic examination. This was done with a combination of irrigation of the pouch with moderate to large amounts of saline, suction of fluid material and endoscopic manipulation of chondroids. Subsequently, antibiotic treatment was used to eliminate S. equi infection. All animals received systemic antibiotics, in some cases combined with topical antimicrobial treatment. Treatment was generally regarded as successful when the guttural pouches appeared normal and S. equi was not detected in nasopharangeal swabs and pouch lavages on 3 consecutive occasions. Successful treatment of one carrier required surgical intervention due to occlusion of both guttural pouch pharyngeal openings. Fourteen of 15 carriers were successfully treated by endoscopic removal of inflammatory material and antibiotic treatment, without surgical intervention. Five carriers originally given potentiated sulphonamide (33%) required further therapy with penicillin or ceftiofur, administered both systemically and topically, before S. equi infection and associated inflammation of the guttural pouches were eliminated.
Publication Date: 2000-11-28 PubMed ID: 11093627DOI: 10.2746/042516400777584703Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research article mainly focuses on the treatment of asymptomatic carriers of Streptococcus equi, a bacterium that causes strangles in horses. The treatments were targeted towards the elimination of the bacterium’s colonization in the guttural pouch of the horses, considering the infectious risk posed by the carriers to susceptible horses.
Research Context
- The analysis was conducted amid three prolonged outbreaks of strangles, a highly contagious disease that affects horses’ respiratory system.
- Fourteen silent (asymptomatic) carriers were revealed through endoscopic examination. Thirteen out of the fourteen showed presence of the bacterium in their guttural pouch, a part of the horse’s respiratory tract.
- Additionally, two more horses were studied that exhibited a severe guttural pouch pathology and were confirmed carriers of S. equi.
Intervention Strategy
- Initially, the treatment focused on eliminating the gross changes in the guttural pouch as viewed through endoscopy. The technique used for this included flushing (irrigation) of pouches with saline, suction of fluid, and endoscopic handling of chondroids (accumulated pus nodules).
- Subsequently, antibiotic treatment was applied to eradicate S. equi infection.
Treatment Outcomes
- All the horses received systemic antibiotics, with some receiving topical antimicrobial treatment in conjunction.
- Treatment was deemed successful when the guttural pouches returned to normal as viewed on endoscopy, and S. equi was not detected through nasopharyngeal swabs (throat swabs) and pouch rinses on three consecutive occasions.
- One carrier having blocked guttural pouch openings had to undergo a surgery, but all other horses were treated effectively with non-surgical methods.
- Five carriers who received potentiated sulphonamide as initial therapy required further treatment using penicillin or ceftiofur, applied both systematically and topically.
Conclusions
- The treatment regime successfully eliminated S. equi infection and related inflammation from the guttural pouches for fourteen out of fifteen carriers.
- The study demonstrates that a treatment protocol involving endoscopic manipulation and appropriate antibiotic intervention can manage asymptomatic carriers effectively, preventing the transmission risk to other healthy horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Verheyen K, Newton JR, Talbot NC, de Brauwere MN, Chanter N.
(2000).
Elimination of guttural pouch infection and inflammation in asymptomatic carriers of Streptococcus equi.
Equine Vet J, 32(6), 527-532.
https://doi.org/10.2746/042516400777584703 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Centre for Preventive Medicine, Animal Health Trust, Newmarket, Suffolk, UK.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Carrier State / drug therapy
- Carrier State / veterinary
- Disease Outbreaks / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / drug therapy
- Horses
- Male
- Nasopharynx / microbiology
- Streptococcal Infections / drug therapy
- Streptococcal Infections / veterinary
- Streptococcus equi / isolation & purification
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