Northern Ontario Strangles Outbreak

Source: StandardbredCanada.ca

27 April 2011

The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs has been alerted to a growing number of strangles cases in the Northern Ontario region; specifically the Great Sudbury area and Manitoulin Island.

Strangles is a highly contagious bacterial disease in horses cause by Streptococcus equi subspecies equi. Strangles is transmitted through the spread of fluids that may contain the disease. This can occur by something as simple as sharing a halter that has abcess fluid on it. The disease attacks and causes abcesses in the lymphoid tissue of the upper respiratory tract.

The OMAFRA disease fact sheet contains recommendations regarding vaccines for the disease.

To read more about strangles and the affected areas as well as suggestions for vaccinating and treatment, read the full article here.