Lymphangitis problem on yard, could this be the cause?

[corriehorse]

The yard where my horse is kept to is having a bit of a problem with lymphangitis. I know it is caused by bacteria entering the body through the likes of mud fever, etc but there seems to be a pattern to the outbreaks and i wondered if anybody had had a similar experience or knows if this could be the cause.
First horse went down with it 4 weeks ago and is turned out on her own in a field on the side of a hill. Next 2 horses to go down with it were turned out in the field below first horses field and most recent case has been from the field below this, however there have been some turned out in these bottom 2 fields with no problems. I initially wondered if there is something which has been washing down through the fields in order due to the pattern of outbreak, and due to the fact that two other fields of horses on other side of hill have all been fine. The field that backs onto the field of first "patient" is owned by a farmer who (how and exactly what im not sure) but has been "done" a few times for spreading things he shouldnt on his fields. About the same time as first case he was muck spreading in his field in the corner by the field occupied by the first horse.
Does anybody know if it would be possible that something he has spread has contained the lymphangitis causing bacteria and been washed down through the fields, and if there is any soil tests that could be taken to verify this?

 

[eoe]

Lymphangitis is as you say a bacteria but it normally attacks a cut on horses legs, so if all your horses have mud fever/cuts on their legs then if they can pick up the bacteria from the mud into this and they will sometimes get lymphangitis. I would go and get a soil testing kit from a garden centre and this will tell you if there is a high level of something in the ground and then you can see if there is anything in the ground or you can get in touch with enviromental health, tell them you think farmer has dumped something and that the rain/snow is spreading it across your fields. I don't know how much info you can get from shop brought soil testing kits but a lot of gardeners use them so shop around and buy a quality one. Someone else posted a similar problem on the site a couple of days ago, think it was under stable yard. If farmer has dumped something EH may just give him a warning but you could follow it through the small claims courts as your fields will have to be cleaned, rested and fed.

 

[CBAnglo]

Have the horses been cleared of a virus? sometimes it presents the same symptoms as lymphangitis, or rather cellulitis.

 

[miller]

High protein diets and lack of exercise can also be an issue with prone horses - presumably horses are in work and not being fed full diets with little exercise?
Could it be something irritant on the field that has caused skin to inflame crack that you can't see?

My lad knocked the edge off his back chestnut and the mud sat in it (black horse fetched in / turned out in the dark and not bleeding by the time he came in)

 

[Andalucian]

Bacteria caused filled legs = Cellulitis, Lymphangitis is completely different and caused by poor lymphdrainage systems overreacting to an injury or stress.