Rhode Island state veterinarians confirmed on April 8 that one horse in Washington County, Rhode Island, has tested positive for strangles and two more are suspected positive.
The index case was purchased at auction, where it was first diagnosed with strangles and isolated from other horses. Once clinical signs resolved and a PCR test for strangles came back negative, the horse was released and imported to a boarding facility in Rhode Island. There, it was turned out in a paddock with two other horses. One of those horses has since tested positive for strangles, and the other has mild clinical signs (nasal discharge) but has not been tested. Twenty horses on the property have been exposed.
EDCC Health Watch is an Equine Network marketing program that utilizes information from the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) to create and disseminate verified equine disease reports. The EDCC is an independent nonprofit organization that is supported by industry donations in order to provide open access to infectious disease information.
About Strangles
Strangles in horses is an infection caused by Streptococcus equi subspecies equi and spread through direct contact with other equids or contaminated surfaces. Horses that aren’t showing clinical signs can harbor and spread the bacteria, and recovered horses remain contagious for at least six weeks, with the potential to cause outbreaks long-term…