Strangles in a stallion in southeast Nigeria: clinical and pathological report


Published: Jul 9, 2023
Updated: 2023-07-09
Versions:
2023-07-09 (2)
Keywords:
horse strangles clinicopathologic findings.
CC Okolo
AO Igwe
IC Ugochukwu
JN Omeke
DC Anyogu
KO Ogbuanya
NE Nweze
SVO Shoyinka
Abstract

ABSTRACT. Streptococcus equi subspecies equi is the causative agent of strangles, a highly contagious mucopurulent upper respiratory tract infection of horses. This report describes the clinicopathologic findings of a fatal case of pulmonary form of strangles in a two-and-half-year-old stallion presented at a Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Southeast Nigeria. Treatment was attempted in quarantine using high doses of procaine penicillin; but it was unsuccessful. The clinical signs observed in the affected horse include a left unilateral supra-orbital swelling containing purulent matter, which progressed to a chronic intractable exudative pus. Anaemia with leukocytosis (due to neutrophilia) were observed in the haematologic parameters. Gross and histologic lesions were multifocally extensive abscessing necrotic lymphadenitis and bronchopneumonia with inflammatory oedema and infiltrate of polymorphonuclear leukocytes.


Article Details
  • Section
  • Case Report
Downloads
Download data is not yet available.
References
References
Arias MP (2013) Strangles: the most prevalent infectious respiratory disease in horses worldwide. Rev Ces Med Zootec 8:143–159.
Barratt-Boyes SM, Young RL, Canton DD, Mohr FC (1991) Streptococcus equi infection as a cause of panophthalmitis in a horse. J Equine Vet Sci 11:229–231.
Bianchi MV, Mello LS, De Lorenzo C, Lopes BC, Snel GGM, Driemeier D, Pavarini SP (2018) Lung lesions of slaughtered horses in southern Brazil Pesq Vet Bras 38:2056–2064.
Boyle AG, Timoney JF, Newton JR, Hines MT, Waller AS, Buchanan BR (2018) Streptococcus equi infections in horses: Guidelines for treatment, control, and prevention of Strangles-Revised Consensus Statement. J Vet Intern Med 32:633–647.
Boyle AG (2016) Strangles and its complications. Equine Vet Educ 29:149–157.
Dedrick P, Reef VB, Sweeney RW, Morris DD (1988) Treatment of bacterial endocarditis in a horse. J Am Vet Med Ass 193:339–342.
Duffee LR, Stefanovski D, Boston RC, Boyle AG (2015) Predictor variables for and complications associated with Streptococcus equi subsp equi infection in horses. J Am Vet Med Ass 247:1161–1168.
Erol E, Locke SJ, Donahoe JK, Mackin MA, Carter CN (2012) Beta-hemolytic Streptococcus spp. from horses: A retrospective study (2000–2010). J Vet Diagn Invest 24:142–147.
Ford J, Lokai MD (1980) Complications of Streptococcus equi infection. Equine Prac 2:41–44.
Hamlen HJ, Timoney JF, Bell RJ (1992) Hematologic parameters of foals during a strangles epizootic. J Equine Vet Sci 12:86–92.
Hardy J, Léveilé R (2003) Diseases of the guttural pouches. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract Abr 19:123–158, VII.
Ijaz M, Khan MS, Khan MA, Avais M, Ali MM, Saleem MH (2011) Molecular identification and haematological values of strangles (Streptococcus equi) affected mules in Pakistan. Pakistan J Zool 43:587–592.
Kaplan NA, Moore BR (1996) Streptococcus equi endocarditis, meningitis and panophthalmitis in a mature horse. Equine Vet Educ 8:313–316.
Knowles EJ, Mair TS, Butcher N, Waller AS, Wood JLN (2010) Use of a novel serological test for exposure to Streptococcus equi subspecies equi in hospitalised horses. Vet Rec 166:294–297.
Laus F, Preziuso S, Spaterna A, Beribè F, Tesei B, Cuteri V (2007) Clinical and epidemiological investigation of chronic upper respiratory diseases caused by beta-haemolytic Streptococci in horses. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 30:47–260.
Lindahl S, So¨derlund R, Frosth S, Pringle J, Ba˚verud V, Aspa´n A (2011) Tracing outbreaks of Streptococcus equi infection (strangles) in horses using sequence variation in the seM gene and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Vet Microbiol 153:144–149.
The Merck Veterinary Manual (2016) 11th Edition Susan E. Aiello, Michael A. Moses
Mallicote M (2015) Update on Streptococcus equi subsp equi infections. Vet Clin Equine 31:27–41.
Newton JR, Wood JL, Chanter N (1997) Strangles: Long term carriage of Streptococcus equi in horses. Equine Vet Educ 9:98–102.
Oikawa M, Takagi S, Anzai R, Yoshikawa H, Yoshikawa T (1995) Pathology of equine respiratory disease occurring in association with transport. J Comp Pathol 113:29–43.
Pusterla N, Kass PH, Mapes S, Johnson C, Barnett DC, Vaala W, Gutierrez C, McDaniel R, Whitehead B, Manning J (2011) Surveillance programme for important equine infectious respiratory pathogens in the USA. Vet Rec 169:12.
Racklyeft DJ, Love DN (2000) Bacterial infection of the lower respiratory tract in 34 horses. Aust Vet J 78:549–559.
Reile LJ, Genetzky RM (1983) Equine strangles: A brief overview. Iowa State Veterinarian 45:16–19.
Robinson N (2009) Current therapy in equine medicine. 6th ed, Saunders Elsevier, St. Louis Mo: pp 288–292.
Slater JD (2003) Strangles, bastard strangles, vives and glanders: archaeological relics in a genomic age. Equine Vet J 35:118–120.
Suvarna KS, Layton C, Bancroft JD (2018) Bancroft’s theory and practice of histological techniques, 8th ed, Elsevier, Oxford, UK.
Sweeney CR (1996) Strangles: Streptococcus equi infection in horses. Equine Vet Educ 8:317–322.
Sweeney CR, Timoney JF, Newton RJ, Hines MT (2005) Streptococcus equi infections in horses: Guidelines for treatment, control, and prevention of strangles. J Vet Intern Med 19:123–134.
Taylor S, Wilson D (2006) Streptococcus equi subsp. equi (Strangles) infection. Clin Tech Equine Pract 5:211–217.
Timoney JF (1993) Strangles. Veterinary clinics of North America: Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 9:365–373.
Timoney JF, Mukhtar MM (1993) The protective M proteins of the equine group C Streptococci. Vet Microbiol 37:389–395.
Timoney JF (2000) Strangles. J. Equine Vet Sci 20:572.
Timoney JF, Kumar P (2008) Early pathogenesis of equine Streptococcus equi infection (strangles). Equine Vet J 40: 637–42.
Waller AS (2013) Strangles: taking steps towards eradication. Vet Microbiol 167:50–60.
Waller AS (2014) New perspectives for the diagnosis, control, treatment, and prevention of strangles in horses. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 30:591–607.
Waller AS (2016) Strangles: a pathogenic legacy of the war horse. Vet Rec 178:91–92.
Whelchel DD, Arnold CE, Chaffin MK (2009) Subscapular lymph node abscessation as a result of metastatic Streptococcus equi subspecies equi infection: An atypical presentation of bastard strangles in a mare. Equine Vet Educ 21:131–134.
Most read articles by the same author(s)