Swabs come back with the strangles bacteria but horse has no symptoms

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BlondeAmbition

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Please could someone help me.

My gelding had swabs done two weeks ago and the swabs came back today as having the strangles bacteria in a tiny amount (apparently there are three levels, his was the most minor).

The problem is, he is 100% fit and fighting! He is not quiet, he does not have a temperature, he had some nasal discharge (white to clear) for two days then absolutely nothing at all and has been free from any discharge for just under two weeks now.

He does not have a cough, nor does he appear 'down' or 'depressed'. In fact, he is in very high spirits! I cannot see how he could have the strangles bacteria when he is so well, can they have it and show absolutely no symptoms whatsoever. He doesn't even have one from all the websites I have been looking at!
 
just maybe he's a carrier and thats why not showing symptons
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Don't think he is a carrier as had swabs back in November 2008 and no signs of it then at all. Did come back with a different bacteria of that family (zoo something) but vets have said definitely not related.
 
Obviously, I am concerned because I know how serious strangles is and am now frantic with worry.

He is a horse that goes off his hard feed if under the weather and he is most definitely eating at the moment. He is on quite a large feed three times a day for the work he is doing and is eating every last mouthful of it.

I am finding it very hard to come to terms with this because other than a slight snivel two weeks ago (and I do mean a slight one in this case) there has been absolutely nothing wrong with him. He is as bright as a button, loving his work and thriving! He looks absolutely amazing too.

The vets have said they will need to do another swab next week towards the end of the week. The cluster of bacteria which was grew was so slight it has taken them a little longer than normal to identify it. But obviously, the yard has to be closed, the horse quarantined and no moevement to and from the yard. It is heart breaking to put him on box rest because he is so fit and well, he is the best he has ever been right now!
 
How have his glands been looking? I know of a virus which was going round. Horses eat well, very slight drizzle out of nostril for maybe 1 or 2 days, no real temperature. But slightly raised glands - starting at mid way down the cheek bone and then going round the back - but not sore to touch. Horses present with slightly raised levels in first swab/blood test then in second are given the all clear.

So as I mentioned earlier your horse may have either been in contact with the virus at some point OR your horse just have another bug which shows a slightly raised element on the swabs/bloods.

At the end of the day it is better to be safe than sorry, so what is two weeks in the greater scheme of things?
 
His glands are normal, no swelling or soreness.

I am contemplating getting the next swabs done a little sooner than late next week (perhaps Monday) due to the lack of symptoms and the health of him at the moment. Surely, with the swabs being taken two weeks ago and him not showing any symptoms even now (other than a slight drizzle in his nostril just under two weeks ago) this cannot be a serious strain otherwise surely there would be more obvious symptoms.

Keeping him on box rest is what is upsetting me the most when he is so healthy, fit and ready to work. He has had a long period of box rest a few years ago and did not cope well with it, so putting him back through this is killing me!
 
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years ago my exmoor had strangles and I quarantined him in a field well away from other horses, can't you do that instead of stabling him
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He would not stay out in a field on his own, he just goes completely nuts if put out on his own!
 
I think the earliest you can do them is 10 days later but I can't remember - you would need to speak to your vet.

Re the box rest issue - have you cut his feed down to rest quantities. You can try hanging swedes in his stable for him to eat, different hay nets. Split his feed into smaller portions and serve as more feeds during the day
 
If the swabs came back as positive, it means he's had contact with it at some point, and is presumably now carrying it without symptoms. Has he been off colour at any point in the last few months, as they can shed strangles for weeks or months after infection.
I think the minimum time between swabs is one week, and I'm pretty sure that you have to have 3 negative results to rule out strangles, so may be a while before your out of the woods yet.

It sounds like the swabs in November came back with Strep equi zooepidemicus, which is found in healthy horses and is only really a problem if a horse is stressed or has a virus.
 
He was quite poorly with it back in November, but recovered well in just under three weeks. Since then, he has been absolutely super, not a quiet day to be seen and looking fantastic.

I am not 100% sure if his glands were a bit raised last night. I will check them again this morning, but I also think I could probably find every possible symptom if I looked hard enough as I think that is what happens. For example, even when you look at a sound horse, you can have it lame by staring at it too much!

The temperature is still being checked twice daily and has been a constant 37.8

The vet seems to think we only need one clear swab due to the quantity of the bacteria that has been found and the health of the horse, but I will ask them and double check this.
 
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