Changes

== Clinical Signs ==

== Clinical Signs ==

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]].

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).

'''Bastard strangles''' may occasionally occur, with abscessation in many organs of the body. This will be difficult to diagnose as clinical signs are systemic and variable, although history of having strangles in the normal form is presumptive.

''S. equi'' may also be involved in cutaneous lesions.

''S. equi'' may also be involved in cutaneous lesions.

The clinical signs of atypical strangles are milder. There is only mild inflammation of the upper respiratory tract and minimal nasal discharge. A cough and pyrexia are still present but the lymphadenopathy is self-limiting. Whether this form of strangles occurs depends on the strain of bacteria, the existing immunity of the horse and genetics.  

== Diagnosis ==

== Diagnosis ==

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.

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  

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. Water troughs should be emptied and disinfected regularly to reduce the expose of in-contact horses to the pathogens. Before horses are taken out of isolation they should have tested for the presence of infection, so that asymptomatic carrier animals are identified. 

 

Control measures to prevent the disease includes quarantine of all in-coming animals. It is important to try to reduce stress on the yard or within groups of horses turned out together and it is necessary to avoid overcrowding and mixing different age groups.

Control measures to prevent the disease in the quarantine of all in-coming animals. It is important to try to reduce stress on the yard or within groups of horses turned out together and it is necessary to avoid overcrowding and mixing different age groups.

Immunity occurs in animals that have been infected, however it is short-lived.