Strangles Alert: Horses Confirmed Infected in Three Michigan Counties
Strangles, an equine infection, has been earnestly knocking on the doors of three counties in Michigan — Ingham, Eaton, and Ottawa. Proof? Three horses have been confirmed positive for the bacterial infection, says the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC). Each infected horse in Ingham and Eaton, plus five from Ottawa, are now holed up in quarantine. Now that's a horse of a different color!
Disease Synopsis: Don't Confuse Strangles for Horseplay
Strangles, caused by the bacteria Streptococcus equi subspecies equi, isn't something your horse can merely shrug off. Bear in with us; this isn't merely a trifling horse cold. Symptoms include fever, swollen/abscessed lymph nodes, a nose that won't quit running, coughing, wheezing, and trouble swallowing, not to mention muscle swelling. An unbridled infection can spiral into complications like pneumonia or laminitis.
Riding the Wave: How Exactly Does Strangles Spread?
The infection is about as sociable as your horse–it spreads through contact. An encounter with an infected horse or objects bearing the bacteria is all it takes to fell your horse to strangles. This includes anything from water sources, feed, or equipment.
Reining In the Infection: Strangles Prevention Must-dos
Putting a lid on this bug requires laying down strict biosecurity measures. How, you ask? Allow us to trot out some advice:
- Vaccinate: Strangles vaccination is an all-important line of defense. Make sure your horse has a primary vaccination series up its sleeve, supplemented by annual boosters.
- Play Safe: Fresh arrivals on the farm? Quarantine them for at least 14 days to ensure they're not carriers of strangles.
- Sanitize: Dedicate some elbow grease to regularly scrub and disinfect water sources, feed troughs, and equipment.
- Be Equipped: Guard up! Use disposable gloves and boots while handling infected horses to prevent passing on the bacteria.
Mitigating the Outbreak: Advances in Tackling Strangles
Recent strangles research has made some significant strides, focusing on vaccination efficacy and new prevention methods. One study, for instance, published in the Journal of Veterinary Research, placed its bets on a new vaccine christened StrangVac successful in preventing strangles among horses. Other research is galloping towards leveraging probiotics and immunomodulators to whip the immune system into shape for preventing this disease.
To button up, the strangles outbreak in the tri-county area of Michigan is a major cause of concern for equestrians in the area. Understanding strangles and adopting the right prevention measures is critical to safeguard horse populations. Equine breeders and trainers have to saddle up with biosecurity precautions, like vaccination, quarantine, and sanitation. Staying informed about disease spread and the latest in research is integral to keeping ahead of strangles. Your horses are relying on you to hold the reins!
Reference:
1. Article by The Horse (thehorse.com)