New perspectives for the diagnosis, control, treatment, and prevention of strangles in horses.
Abstract: Strangles, characterized by abscessation of the lymph nodes of the head and neck, is the most frequently diagnosed infectious disease of horses worldwide. The persistence of the causative agent, Streptococcus equi, in a proportion of convalescent horses plays a critical role in the recurrence and spread of disease. Recent research has led to the development of effective diagnostic tests that assist the eradication of S equi from local horse populations. This article describes how these advances have been made and provides advice to assist the resolution and prevention of outbreaks. New perspectives on preventative vaccines and therapeutic interventions are discussed.
Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2014-10-06 PubMed ID: 25300634DOI: 10.1016/j.cveq.2014.08.007Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
- Review
- Biosecurity
- Diagnosis
- Diagnostic Technique
- Disease control
- Disease Diagnosis
- Disease Outbreaks
- Disease Prevention
- Disease Transmission
- Disease Treatment
- Epidemiology
- Equine Diseases
- Equine Health
- Herd Management
- Horses
- Immunology
- Infectious Disease
- Strangles
- Streptococcus
- Vaccine development
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Research
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
This research article focuses on strides made in the control, prevention, and treatment of strangles—a commonly diagnosed infectious disease in horses. The study provides insights into recent developments in diagnostic tests and discusses new possibilities for therapeutic interventions and vaccines.
Overview of Strangles in Horses
- Strangles is a highly infectious disease prevalent in horses and is manifested through swollen lymph nodes in the head and neck.
- The disease is caused by the bacterium Streptococcus equi, which has been known to remain in the bodies of horses after they have recovered from the illness. The persistence of this bacterium can cause repeated outbreaks of the disease and facilitate its spread in local horse populations.
Development of Diagnostic Tests
- Research has led to advances in diagnostic test procedures that aid in effectively recognizing the presence of S equi, helping to eradicate the bacterium from regional horse populations.
- The article extensively discusses how these significant discoveries were made, although specific techniques and methods are not mentioned in the abstract.
Vaccines and Therapeutic Interventions
- The research further delves into recent developments in preventative measures and potential treatment approaches. These advancements address not just the symptoms but also the underlying persistent S equi infection.
- The study offers advice on how to use these innovations to prevent new outbreaks, treat infected horses, and systematically remove S equi from horse populations, potentially leading to the eradication of the disease.
Implications of the Research
- The insights from this study can pave the way for a more effective management plan against strangles. It can revolutionize how veterinary practitioners approach the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and containment of this horse disease.
- The potential for eradicating strangles could drastically improve the health and wellbeing of horse populations worldwide, having significant implications for the equestrian industry, horse owners, veterinarians, and horses themselves.
Cite This Article
APA
Waller AS.
(2014).
New perspectives for the diagnosis, control, treatment, and prevention of strangles in horses.
Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract, 30(3), 591-607.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cveq.2014.08.007 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Centre for Preventive Medicine, Animal Health Trust, Lanwades Park, Kentford, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 7UU, UK. Electronic address: andrew.waller@aht.org.uk.
MeSH Terms
- Abscess / microbiology
- Abscess / veterinary
- Animals
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horse Diseases / therapy
- Horses
- Streptococcal Infections / diagnosis
- Streptococcal Infections / microbiology
- Streptococcal Infections / therapy
- Streptococcal Infections / veterinary
- Streptococcus equi / isolation & purification
Grant Funding
- 86970 / Wellcome Trust
Citations
This article has been cited 22 times.- Jaramillo-Morales C, James K, Barnum S, Vaala W, Chappell DE, Schneider C, Craig B, Bain F, Barnett DC, Gaughan E, Pusterla N. Voluntary Biosurveillance of Streptococcus equi Subsp. equi in Nasal Secretions of 9409 Equids with Upper Airway Infection in the USA. Vet Sci 2023 Jan 20;10(2).
- Rotinsulu DA, Ewers C, Kerner K, Amrozi A, Soejoedono RD, Semmler T, Bauerfeind R. Molecular Features and Antimicrobial Susceptibilities of Streptococcus equi ssp. equi Isolates from Strangles Cases in Indonesia. Vet Sci 2023 Jan 10;10(1).
- Frosth S, Morris ERA, Wilson H, Frykberg L, Jacobsson K, Parkhill J, Flock JI, Wood T, Guss B, Aanensen DM, Boyle AG, Riihimäki M, Cohen ND, Waller AS. Conservation of vaccine antigen sequences encoded by sequenced strains of Streptococcus equi subsp. equi. Equine Vet J 2023 Jan;55(1):92-101.
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- Willis AT, Barnum S, Pusterla N. Validation of a point-of-care polymerase chain reaction assay for detection of Streptococcus equi subspecies equi in rostral nasal swabs from horses with suspected strangles. Can Vet J 2021 Jan;62(1):51-54.
- Dominguez-Medina CC, Rash NL, Robillard S, Robinson C, Efstratiou A, Broughton K, Parkhill J, Holden MTG, Lopez-Alvarez MR, Paillot R, Waller AS. SpeS: A Novel Superantigen and Its Potential as a Vaccine Adjuvant against Strangles. Int J Mol Sci 2020 Jun 23;21(12).
- Laing G, Christley R, Stringer A, Aklilu N, Ashine T, Newton R, Radford A, Pinchbeck G. Respiratory disease and sero-epidemiology of respiratory pathogens in the working horses of Ethiopia. Equine Vet J 2018 Nov;50(6):793-799.
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- Goyen KA, Wright JD, Cunneen A, Henning J. Playing with fire - What is influencing horse owners' decisions to not vaccinate their horses against deadly Hendra virus infection?. PLoS One 2017;12(6):e0180062.
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- Tirosh-Levy S, Blum SE, Steward KF, Waller AS, Steinman A. Streptococcus equi subspecies equi in horses in Israel: seroprevalence and strain types. Vet Rec Open 2016;3(1):e000187.
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- McGlennon AA, Verheyen KL, Newton JR, van Tonder A, Wilson H, Parkhill J, de Brauwere N, Frosth S, Waller AS. Unwelcome neighbours: Tracking the transmission of Streptococcus equi in the United Kingdom horse population. Equine Vet J 2026 Mar;58(2):533-548.
- Veiga RF, Clarindo LN, Fensterseifer AL, Pompelli LH, Sfaciotte RAP, Schwarz DGG, Eloy LR, Ferraz SM. Prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of Streptococcus equi isolated from horses in Santa Catarina state, Southern Brazil. Braz J Microbiol 2024 Dec;55(4):4147-4155.
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- Moghaddam S, Lotfollahzadeh S, Salehi TZ, Hassanpour A, Manesh HT, Tamai IA. Molecular and sequencing study and identification of novel SeM-type in beta-hemolytic streptococci involving the upper respiratory tract in Iran. BMC Vet Res 2023 Oct 17;19(1):210.
- Thomas BA, Saylor RK, Taylor ZP, Rhodes DVL. Evaluating Trends in Strangles Outbreaks Using Temperature and Precipitation Data in the United States of America for 2018-2022. Pathogens 2023 Aug 29;12(9).
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