Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Clinical and epidemiological investigation of chronic upper respiratory diseases caused by beta-haemolytic Streptococci in horses.
- Journal:
- Comparative immunology, microbiology and infectious diseases
- Year:
- 2007
- Authors:
- Laus, F et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Veterinary Science · Italy
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
In central Italy, an outbreak of a disease similar to strangles was found in 26 horses. The horses were examined and tested using various methods, including taking nasal swabs and samples from their guttural pouches, but no carriers of the typical strangles bacteria were identified. Some horses had signs of upper airway disease and changes in their throat area. Researchers found a different type of bacteria, Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis, in 14 horses and another type, S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus, in six horses. The findings suggest that these other types of bacteria, rather than the usual strangles bacteria, may be causing the disease.
Abstract
An outbreak of strangle-like disease involving 26 horses farmed in central Italy was investigated by clinic examination, endoscopy, cytology, bacteriology and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). At weekly interval, a total of three nasal swabs and one guttural pouches lavage fluid (GPLF) were collected, and no Streptococcus equi subsp. equi carrier was found. Some horses showed upper airways disease and endoscopic signs of pharyngeal lymphoid hyperplasia of different grade and/or abnormal endoscopic appearance of guttural pouches. Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis was isolated from 14 horses while S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus was isolated from six horses. PCR confirmed the biochemical and serological identification of all isolates and was positive in 10 bacteriological negative samples. The absence of S. equi and the frequent detection of S. equisimilis and S. zooepidemicus suggest that beta-haemolytic streptococci other than S. equi could be the causative agent of strangle-like disease.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17433441/