Changes

== Clinical Signs ==

== Clinical Signs ==

After infection, there is an incubation period 3 to 6 days followed by fever, depression, anorexia, purulent bilateral nasal discharge, swollen, painful regional lymph nodes, especially submandibular and abscessation and rupture of lymph nodes in severe cases. There may also be [[Guttural Pouch Empyema|guttural pouch empyema]].

After infection, there is an incubation period 3 to 6 days followed by pyrexia, depression, anorexia, purulent bilateral nasal discharge, and swelling or abscessation of regional lymph nodes, especially the submandibular nodes. The lymph nodes may rupture. There may also be [[Guttural Pouch Empyema|guttural pouch empyema]].

Death can occur from [[:Category:Pneumonia|pneumonia]], breathing difficulties from swollen lymph nodes or [[Muscle Ischaemia|purpura haemorrhagica]] (an immune-mediated disease).

Death can occur from [[:Category:Pneumonia|pneumonia]], breathing difficulties from swollen lymph nodes or [[Muscle Ischaemia|purpura haemorrhagica]] (an immune-mediated disease).

== Diagnosis ==

== Diagnosis ==

History and clinical signs are presumptive. Samples need to be taken via deep nasopharyngeal swab and sent off for culture. If present, you will see mucoid colonies with beta-haemolysis. Sugar fermentation allows differentiation of ''S. equi'' from [[Streptococcus zooepidemicus|''S. zooepidemicus'']] and [[Streptococcus equisimilis|''S. equisimilis'']] as the last two are commensals of the upper respiratory tract. PCR can be used to detect asymptomatic carriers.

History and clinical signs are presumptive. Samples need to be taken from deep nasopharyngeal swabs, abscess content or guttural pouch washings  and sent off for culture. If present, you will see mucoid colonies with beta-haemolysis. Sugar fermentation allows differentiation of ''S. equi'' from [[Streptococcus zooepidemicus|''S. zooepidemicus'']] and [[Streptococcus equisimilis|''S. equisimilis'']] as the last two are commensals of the upper respiratory tract. PCR can be used to detect asymptomatic carriers.

Endoscopy of the guttural pouch can be performed and samples taken to detect disease in here as this is more difficult to destroy and therefore stronger antibiotics need to be prescribed.

Endoscopy of the guttural pouch can be performed and samples taken to detect disease in here as this is more difficult to destroy and therefore stronger antibiotics need to be prescribed.

== Treatment and Control ==

== Treatment and Control ==

In the case of an outbreak, '''Penicillin''' should be administered to the affected animal and to in-contact animals. If the affected animal is in the later stages of the clinical disease, such as an abscess is present then treatment with antibacterials is not necessary.

In the case of an outbreak, '''penicillin''' should be administered to the affected animal and to in-contact animals. If abcesses are already present antibiotics should not be administered as this is shown to slow the recovery. Instead abcesses should be hot-packed

Isolation of affected animals is required immediately. The yard needs to be shut and no animals are allowed in or out. Strict control needs to be enforced on all personnel in the yard and them made aware they are not to visit another horse or take their vehicle to other yards. Disinfection of all tack, stables, vehicles, boots and any other equipment that has come into contact with infected animals need to be performed.

Isolation of affected animals is required immediately. The yard needs to be shut and no animals are allowed in or out. Strict control needs to be enforced on all personnel in the yard and them made aware they are not to visit another horse or take their vehicle to other yards. Disinfection of all tack, stables, vehicles, boots and any other equipment that has come into contact with infected animals need to be performed.

Brown, C.M, Bertone, J.J. (2002) The 5-Minute Veterinary Consult- Equine', Lippincott, Williams & Wilkin

Brown, C.M, Bertone, J.J. (2002) '''The 5-Minute Veterinary Consult- Equine''', ''Lippincott, Williams &amp''; Wilkin

Knottenbelt, D.C. A Handbook of Equine Medicine for Final Year Students University of Liverpool

Knottenbelt, D.C. '''A Handbook of Equine Medicine for Final Year Students''' University of Liverpool

[[Category:Respiratory_Bacterial_Infections]] [[Category:Respiratory_Diseases_-_Horse]] [[Category:Expert_Review]]

[[Category:Respiratory_Bacterial_Infections]] [[Category:Respiratory_Diseases_-_Horse]] [[Category:Expert_Review]]

[[Category:Streptococcus species]][[Category:Horse Bacteria]]

[[Category:Streptococcus species]][[Category:Horse Bacteria]]