now_loves_mares
Well-Known Member
I've owned my horse (gelding) for about 16 months now. He's kept at home with my other horse (mare) Neither have left the yard for 7 months as I'm pregnant. Both are in rude health.
The gelding came from Ireland and past history not known, he was just 5 when I got him. The mare I've owned since she was 8 months old. The gelding was due to go on loan, and his livery yard asked for a strangles blood test, as a friend had recently moved her retired mare to mine to keep my mare company when the gelding left. The blood test was done on the 3rd week of her arrival, and we received the result exactly 3 weeks after she arrived. No-one has been sick, I've known this mare for 6 years or so, I know she hasn't had strangles in that time, and 99.9% sure the yard she came from hasn't had any issues either.
However, my gelding came back with a "low positive" on his bloods. One was a 0.2 and one was a 0.4. The yard then refused to take him unless I had a negative swab. I decided as I was already this far into pregnancy not to faff around with this (can't currently drive lorry for a start), and he's just stayed at home. Another 3 weeks have passed, safe to say nobody has strangles.
Questions are, therefore:
- What is the most likely cause of the positive test? Things I read suggested "exposure within the last 6 months" but he's not been anywhere, and as the mare that arrived hasn't brought strangles with her (has been here 6 weeks now) it appears she isn't the source. He could have been exposed to it in Ireland, but like I said that was 16 months ago, so I would have thought would be gone by now.
- can you get false positives on the bloods? Does it show other virus' (and again, no sign of that in any of the 3 of them)
- is there no point in the 3 week incubation any more? As the new mare had already been at mine for 3 weeks without showing any symptoms, should the yard still have insisted on the test (obviously it is their choice, but I mean from a risk perspective).
- once I'm back on board, what would I have to do to clear my conscience. As the horses are at home and therefore incredibly low risk, if nobody shows any signs of illness, could I in good faith start competing again in a few months despite this positive blood test?
Bit confused, and there is always so much hysteria around strangles I want to make sure I'm clear in what could have happened, what might happen, and what if anything I need to do to keep my own and everybody else's horses safe.
The gelding came from Ireland and past history not known, he was just 5 when I got him. The mare I've owned since she was 8 months old. The gelding was due to go on loan, and his livery yard asked for a strangles blood test, as a friend had recently moved her retired mare to mine to keep my mare company when the gelding left. The blood test was done on the 3rd week of her arrival, and we received the result exactly 3 weeks after she arrived. No-one has been sick, I've known this mare for 6 years or so, I know she hasn't had strangles in that time, and 99.9% sure the yard she came from hasn't had any issues either.
However, my gelding came back with a "low positive" on his bloods. One was a 0.2 and one was a 0.4. The yard then refused to take him unless I had a negative swab. I decided as I was already this far into pregnancy not to faff around with this (can't currently drive lorry for a start), and he's just stayed at home. Another 3 weeks have passed, safe to say nobody has strangles.
Questions are, therefore:
- What is the most likely cause of the positive test? Things I read suggested "exposure within the last 6 months" but he's not been anywhere, and as the mare that arrived hasn't brought strangles with her (has been here 6 weeks now) it appears she isn't the source. He could have been exposed to it in Ireland, but like I said that was 16 months ago, so I would have thought would be gone by now.
- can you get false positives on the bloods? Does it show other virus' (and again, no sign of that in any of the 3 of them)
- is there no point in the 3 week incubation any more? As the new mare had already been at mine for 3 weeks without showing any symptoms, should the yard still have insisted on the test (obviously it is their choice, but I mean from a risk perspective).
- once I'm back on board, what would I have to do to clear my conscience. As the horses are at home and therefore incredibly low risk, if nobody shows any signs of illness, could I in good faith start competing again in a few months despite this positive blood test?
Bit confused, and there is always so much hysteria around strangles I want to make sure I'm clear in what could have happened, what might happen, and what if anything I need to do to keep my own and everybody else's horses safe.
