Bastard Strangles looking for info

[charlene]

Hi....No my horses dont have this ... and have never had it... hopefully they never will. A horse I knew recently died of bastard strangles and was on medication for the strep bacteria, apart from the physical aspects of this disease - swollen glands, absess, could any of you tell me more about the symptoms and effects of this disease.

 

[Tia]

Bastard Strangles is when the infection, and therefore absesses, move to other parts of the body ie. the throat, abdomen, brain or major organs.

It is very rare for a horse to survive Bastard Strangles whereas the majority of horses who suffer regular Strangles are very down for a month but then recover and generally have no lasting effects and in fact approximately 75% of horses who have suffered from Strangles become immune to it therefore once they have had it they can't catch it again.

 

[B_2_B]

what an odd name for an illness

 

[charlene]

Thanks Tia,
That was very helpful. I do have a number of vetenary books but the complications of strangles is not covered.

 

[Tierra]

Tia pretty much covered it tbh.

The only thing I would add is that the risk of bastard strangles is precisely why vets try not to prescribe anti-bi's for "normal" strangles.

Strangles can be treated with anti-biotics but it increases the risk of the absesses being driven to the internal organs and as Tia already mentioned, bastard strangles carries a very high mortality rate.

As such, its preferable to let strangles run its course and for the horses' own immune system to tackle the attack.

I've only known one case where a vet chose to prescribe anti-bi's to a horse with strangles and this was because her temperature kept raising to the point of it being dangerous. They were used as an absolute last resort for said mare and the vet was very unhappy about having to do so.

Thankfully - bastard strangles is rare and most horses will make a complete recovery from strangles despite the apparent fear it strikes into so many owners.

 

[Hornby]

Very horrible illness. Over 20 years ago I helped to nurse a beautiful leopard spotted appolosa (sp?) who had bastard strangles. He was virtually the yard pet (only one allowed to walk free round the yard) ridden by very few of the staff. Somehow he got bastard strangles and died a horrible death despite everyone's attempts to save him. Very, very sad

 

[pocket]

Have to say that your statement re horses becoming immune to strangles is untrue. Ralph has had it twice, the first time was hideous and I thought I was going to loose him. That was 5 years ago, he had it again in January and this was still distressing as he had some nasal discharge and a week in he burst a pharyngeal abscess in my presence.

On discussion with my vets, they said that he would be prone to out breaks, but each time it would be less severe. I also thought he would be immune. I was due to move stables, but the yard owner would not take him as he is now likely to be a carrier. Its very similar to MRSA in humans, its carried in the nose and can activate, a form of Streptococcus.

 

[Tia]

I'm afraid it is true. Your horse must have been in the unlucky 25% of horses who do not become immune. It is a well known fact that three quarters of all horses who succumb to Strangles DO become immune to further attacks.

 

[Tierra]

Tia is correct. However some horses can become carriers of the bacteria and will trigger outbreaks in other horses and also be victim to repeat outbreaks during their lifespan.

This is why, particularly in competition horses, vets may recommend that horses are swabbed once they recover (and are clear for a couple of months) to see if the bacteria is still present.

IF horses turn out to be carriers, then their competition careers can be effectively over and keeping them long term can be a pain because they can spread strangles to other horses.

We had all ours swabbed 12 weeks after the last case cleared up. All swabs came back clear thankfully. (If they hadn't the YO at least was considering having hers PTS).

Of those who aren't carriers, yes they can still catch it again at a later date, although even those tend to carry a few years immunity from it. There is a % however, that will then become immune to it (Tia's figures may be right here).

But not ALL horses become carriers after suffering with strangles otherwise a lot more horses would be being PTS due to this. The % of carriers is extremely small.

It's a pretty easy test to find out if he is a carrier by the way. Im quite surprised your vet hasn't already recommended that you have this done.

 

[fizzer]

ditto pocket, my old lad had strangles 15 years ago when he was 11, he never returned to his usual fizzy loon of a pony it really took it out of him, 5 years later he had got it again hes now 26 going on 50 but still with us hes a fighter