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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Rec / Surveillance of strangles in UK horses between 2015 and 2019...
The Veterinary record2021; 189(12); e948; doi: 10.1002/vetr.948

Surveillance of strangles in UK horses between 2015 and 2019 based on laboratory detection of Streptococcus equi.

Abstract: Previously national surveillance data for monitoring strangles (Streptococcus equi infection) in UK horses was limited. Improved awareness and knowledge of positive diagnoses would permit the optimisation of biosecurity protocols, decreasing the prevalence of strangles. Methods: Seven UK laboratories reported positive strangles diagnoses between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2019 based on identifying Streptococcus equi via agent detection assays from field-based practitioner-submitted samples. Associated clinical history and animal signalment were collected where provided, and descriptive analysis undertaken. Results: Within the study period, 1617 laboratory-confirmed diagnoses occurred from samples submitted by 315 veterinary practices. Of these, 51.6% were swabs and 44.0% guttural pouch lavages. Diagnoses were primarily based on qPCR alone (59.6%), qPCR and culture (35.8%), or culture alone (4.6%). A total of 1791 clinical signs were reported for 713 diagnoses, where nasal discharge (31.3%) and pyrexia (20.5%) were most frequently reported. Regions with the highest number of diagnoses included North Yorkshire (n = 75, 4.6%), Staffordshire (n = 71, 4.4%) and West Sussex (North East) (n = 63, 3.9%). Conclusions: This study presents important insights into the diagnosis and clinical features of strangles in UK horses, even though limited and/or missing clinical history and signalment on laboratory submission forms restricts the completeness of the data.
© 2021 The Authors. Veterinary Record published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Veterinary Association.
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Publication Date: 2021-09-27 PubMed ID: 34570896DOI: 10.1002/vetr.948Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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.

The research article investigates how Strangles (a Streptococcus equi infection) was surveilled in UK horses from 2015 to 2019. Data was obtained from seven laboratories across the UK, presenting key insights into the diagnosis and clinical presentation of the infection.

Methodology

  • Seven UK laboratories provided data of confirmed Strangles diagnoses between 1st January 2015 and 31st December 2019. Diagnosis was confirmed via agent detection tests conducted on samples submitted by field-based practitioners.
  • The associated clinical history and animal information were collected when available, and all the data gathered was subject to a descriptive analysis.

Findings

  • In the time frame of the research, 1617 laboratory-confirmed diagnoses were recorded from samples submitted by 315 veterinary practices.
  • Of the samples, 51.6% were swabs and 44.0% guttural pouch lavages.
  • The majority of diagnoses were based on qPCR alone (59.6%), a combination of qPCR and culture (35.8%), or culture alone (4.6%).
  • In total, 1791 clinical signs were reported for 713 diagnoses. The most common symptoms observed were nasal discharge (31.3%) and pyrexia (or fever, 20.5%).
  • The regions with the highest number of diagnoses were North Yorkshire (4.6%), Staffordshire (4.4%), and West Sussex (North East, 3.9%).

Conclusions

  • This study offers substantial insight into the diagnosis and clinical features of the Strangles infection in UK horses.
  • However, the data obtained is limited due to missing clinical history and animal information on laboratory submission forms, which restricts the comprehensiveness of the research.
  • Understanding how Strangles is detected and its symptoms can help authorities optimize biosecurity protocols and reduce the prevalence of the infection.

Cite This Article

APA
McGlennon A, Waller A, Verheyen K, Slater J, Grewar J, Aanensen D, Newton R. (2021). Surveillance of strangles in UK horses between 2015 and 2019 based on laboratory detection of Streptococcus equi. Vet Rec, 189(12), e948. https://doi.org/10.1002/vetr.948

Publication

The Veterinary record
ISSN: 2042-7670
NlmUniqueID: 0031164
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 189
Issue: 12
Pages: e948

Researcher Affiliations

McGlennon, Abigail
  • Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, UK.
  • Centre for Preventive Medicine, Animal Health Trust, Newmarket, UK.
Waller, Andrew
  • Centre for Preventive Medicine, Animal Health Trust, Newmarket, UK.
  • Intervacc, Hägersten, Stockholm, Sweden.
Verheyen, Kristien
  • Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, UK.
Slater, Josh
  • University of Melbourne Veterinary School, Werribee, Victoria, Australia.
Grewar, John
  • jDATA Pty (Ltd), Hermanus, South Africa.
Aanensen, David
  • Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Saffron Walden, England.
Newton, Richard
  • Centre for Preventive Medicine, Animal Health Trust, Newmarket, UK.
  • British Horseracing Authority, London, UK.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Biosecurity
  • Disease Outbreaks
  • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horses
  • Laboratories
  • Streptococcus equi
  • United Kingdom / epidemiology

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Citations

This article has been cited 10 times.
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    pubmed: 37265809
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    doi: 10.3390/vetsci10020078pubmed: 36851382google scholar: lookup
  3. He L, Khine NO, Song J, Loubière C, Butaye P. Geographic diversity of the Streptococcus equi subsp. equi accessory genome: implications for vaccines and global surveillance. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1721958.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1721958pubmed: 41394906google scholar: lookup
  4. 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.
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    doi: 10.3390/pathogens12091106pubmed: 37764914google scholar: lookup
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