Strangles Question

Darkly_Dreaming_Dex

Darkly_Dreaming_Dex

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Can anyone help end a debate about how this spreads?
(1)If a horse had strangles a few years ago- can they be carriers and is there any way to tell? Or does the infection have to be "fresh" (like a cold for example)
(2) Are there any long term health implications for a recovered horse?

Thanks
 
(1) I think all horses that have had it before can be carriers but there is no way to tell that i know of.
(2) No long term health problems for a recovered horse and usually they only get it once.
 
There is a blood test now available via vets which measures two levels of antigens present in the horses blood. From this the vet can tell whether the horse has strangles, has been in contact within the last two weeks with the strangles virus but not yet showing symptoms, and I believe whether it will have had strangles at some stage in its life. A horse that has has strangles in the past does not necessarily become a carrier and the results of the blood test will not show it is a carrier, however a follow up swab can then establish whether it is actively carrying the virus in its system. The infection does not have to be "live" to show this.
 
The blood test is fairly new I think.
A horse can be a carrier if they had it a few years ago - but only if the infection is still lurking in the gutteral pouches. If the horses gutteral pouches are scoped/swabbed and are clear after the infection they should remain clear - that is more reliable than the normal 3 swab test.

Most recovered horses have no long term health implications.

Ali
 
Hi Ya

to test if a horse has been previously infected of strangles the blood test is the way forward, cost £58 The test is an ideal method of distinguishing those horses which have been exposed to strangle during a strangles outbreak or to screen horses prior to movement, competition or sales.

during a stranlges outbreak it is important to know that if your horse has had recent contact with an infected horse the blood test could come back positive but may not mean your horses is infected.

if your horse has come into contact (nose to nose contact, drinking from an infected horses water bucket, or if you touch an infected horse and then another horse) wait 2 weeks - the incubation period then start 3 nasal swabs - 5-7 days apart, if they return positive your horse has got the infection.

i have found all this out by experience as my horse has got strangles and i have been stressing about the whole situation for the past month - putting horses in isolation, dis-infecting etc etc!
the Animal health trust has a really good write up of Strangles, carriers and the blood test - http://www.aht.org.uk/bact_carriers.html

good luck!
 
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