SOME STUDIES ON STRANGLES

Abstract

Strangles is one of the most important infectious respiratory diseases affecting equine causing high economic losses respresented in prolonged course, associated with serious complications which may be ended by death of affected animal.

This work was. designed to study the epidemiological, clinical aspects, post-mortem examinations of strangles. In addition, electrophoretic pattern of Streptococcus equi and experimental trial to use vaccination with M.protein and a whole cell culture vaccine.

The results of this study revealed the following:

Epidemiological pattern:

The cumulative incidence of strangles during July, 2003 to June, 2004 was 37.53%.

The seasonal occurance of strangles were 3.89%, 35.59%, 3.62% and

1.26% during winter, spring, summer and autumn, respectively. The highly significant rate of strangles affection was noticed during the spring .

All ages of horses contract the disease; at the age of 6months to >1.5 years the incidence rate was 68.86%, at the age of 1.5->3 years it was 8.33% and in foals less than 6 months it was 12.50% while in horses more than 3 year old, it was 11.83%. The highly significant rate of affection appeared in horses at 05- 1.5 years old.

Clinically infected animals had sudden rise in body temperature (38-

39.50C) with variable degrees from respiratory distress, nasal discharge with or without abscessiated submaxillary lymph node.