Strangles

This highly infectious disease infects the upper respiratory tract in the horse. The gland is caused by the bacterium Streptococcus equi. The incubation period is 3 to 14 days, the pathogen spreads in the animal via the blood and lymph.

In addition to a catarrh of the nose with muco- purulent nasal discharge, cough and high fever often leads to a suppuration of the associated lymph nodes ( especially the mandibular lymph nodes, Lnn. Mandibular and throat passage lymph nodes, Lnn. Retropharyngiales ). When infection of the throat passage lymph nodes, the disease can spread to the air bag and lead to ulceration of the air bag. Pneumonia can develop by spread to the lungs. In rare cases it can also lead to a spread of abscesses in other organs such as liver, spleen, kidneys, brain and intestinal lymph nodes. The disease is rarely fatal without treatment.

With timely treatment, the prognosis is good. Since it is a bacterial disease, antibiotics can be used. Also, a preventive vaccine is available.

• Bacterial infectious disease in horses