On July 7, one premise in Pinellas County, Florida was placed under quarantine for clinical signs and positive PCR confirmation of strangles, according to a Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) alert Friday.
The index case became clinical in June 30th. One of the five horses on the property were clinical at time of quarantine. This the first case for Pinellas County and case 25 for Florida in 2017.
he highly contagious upper respiratory disease of equids, known as Strangles, is caused by the gram-positive β-hemolytic bacterium Streptococcus equi ssp. equi.
The organism, Streptococcus equi ssp. equi, can be transmitted via direct contact with nasal or ocular secretions or lymph node discharge from infected horses or via indirect exposure to contaminated trailers, stalls, riding equipment, buckets, halters, lead ropes, brushes, clothing, etc.
The incubation period typically ranges between two and six days but may last up to 14 days.
Classic symptoms may include fever (103 degrees F or higher), mucopurulent nasal discharge, lymphadenopathy (+/- abscessation), general malaise, pharyngitis, dysphagia, upper airway stridor and respiratory distress.
Clinical signs are often age-related, with older horses exhibiting milder symptoms of shorter duration.
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