{"product_id":"stranglers-streptococcus-equi-bacterial-culture","title":"Strangles Bacterial Culture","description":"\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #c739d2;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003ePathogen test \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\" class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003ebacterial culture\u003c\/strong\u003e will be reported positive if a beta-hemolytic \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eStreptococcus\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e species is grown and identified specifically as the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eStrep equi\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e (formal name is \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eStreptococcus equi\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e subspecies \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eequi\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e).\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #c739d2;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eSample\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eLive \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eStrep equi\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e organisms must be recovered by a swab or wash of the nasopharynx, nasal passages, or draining abscesses.\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #c739d2;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eTurnaround time\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e2 to 5 working days\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"color: #e8b80d;\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eWhat is Stranglers?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" class=\"s1\"\u003eStrangles is a highly contagious upper respiratory infection of horses caused by the bacteria\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eStreptococcus equi\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003esubspecies equi (S. equi). It is transmitted by inhalation or direct contact with contaminated surfaces (for example horses sharing water buckets). The bacteria colonize the horse’s tonsils and pharynx within hours of infection, and then infect the lymph nodes under and behind the jaw resulting in abscessation of these structures days later. Horses develop a fever initially, but are typically not contagious during the initial 48-72 hours.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eRarely, infection spreads to other parts of the body resulting in abscesses in other organs such as the intestines, kidneys, lungs, spleen or liver. This is often called “bastard strangles” or metastatic abscessation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eA few horses may develop a hypersensitivity reaction to the bacteria with repeated exposure either in the form of infection or vaccination otherwise known as purpura hemorrhagica. Horses that develop classic clinical signs and are not treated with antibiotics have the potential to develop immune protection up to five years.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\" class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #e8b80d;\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" class=\"s1\"\u003eClinical signs\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" class=\"s1\"\u003eClassic clinical signs include a fever (often \u0026gt;103°F or 39.5°C) first, followed by one or more of the following symptoms: depression, thick nasal discharge and lymph node enlargement under the jaw and\/or in the throat latch region. The abscessed lymph nodes may drain externally or into the guttural pouches (blind-end sacs connected to the throat in horses) resulting in nasal discharge. Horses that have been vaccinated for strangles or horses that have previous partial immunity may develop milder signs of upper respiratory tract infection.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eBastard strangles cases may develop colic signs, fever, and\/or weight loss with or without a history of previous strangles disease or exposure. Horses with purpura hemorrhagica may develop edema of the head, trunk, and\/or legs; and broken blood vessels or bruising of the mucous membranes of the mouth, eyes and nose. Additional signs can include fever, severe depression, and muscle tightness. The severity of symptoms in purpura hemorrhagica cases ranges from mild to life-threatening.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\" class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #e8b80d;\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" class=\"s1\"\u003eTransmission\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" class=\"Apple-tab-span\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eStrangles is caused by oral exposure of a horse to \u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eS. equi \u003c\/em\u003ebacteria. Once within the oral cavity, the bacteria invade the tonsils and subsequently colonize the lymph nodes.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eBacteria can be transmitted through contact with pus or nasal discharges from an infected horse, or from contaminated bedding or barn equipment (water troughs, buckets, etc.).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eFlies may also act as vectors, spreading the bacteria from horse to horse.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eUnder the right conditions, \u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eS. equi \u003c\/em\u003ecan survive in the environment for weeks or months.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eExposure of a horse to \u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eS. equi\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003edoes not necessarily mean that it will come down with strangles. Factors that influence the risk of disease include dose of bacteria (poor sanitation and direct contact with nasal secretions and pus increase the chance of disease); immune status of horse. Previously exposed horses are often immune to the disease, or do not get as sick as unexposed horses. During the first three to six months of life, foals are often protected by maternal antibodies. Vaccination can also increase resistance to the disease; stress (poor nutrition, overcrowding, lengthy transportation or pre-existing diseases increase the risk of strangles).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eStrangles may be transmitted by “silent shedders” who do not display signs of disease. These horses commonly carry the strangles organism in the guttural pouch, an air sac at the back of the horse’s throat. Detection of these animals requires guttural pouch endoscopy (passing an endoscope via the horse’s nose into the guttual pouch). Strangles is most commonly transmitted by acutely ill or recovering horses that are still shedding bacteria in their nasal secretions. Bacterial culture results have a turnaround time of 2 to 3 days. The DNA test known as Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) takes less than a day. However, it may take an additional 1 to 2 days to send samples to the laboratory.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\" class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #e8b80d;\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" class=\"s1\"\u003ePrevention\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" class=\"s1\"\u003eBiosecurity on the farm is necessary to prevent spread of disease.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eIsolate new horses for three weeks prior to introducing them to the rest of the population.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eIsolate any horse with a fever and signs of strangles.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eDo not share tack or equipment between sick horses and others\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003ePerform twice daily monitoring of rectal temperatures of all horses in an outbreak to identify new cases.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eStop all movement of horses to and from farm when strangles is identified.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eDisinfect water buckets daily.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eUse strict hygiene between horses to reduce spread of the disease.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eIdeally, three throat flush samples are obtained from recovering horses and any horses who were in contact with sick horses at approximately weekly intervals and tested for\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eS. equi\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003esubsp equi by PCR and culture. Identification of strangles bacteria in clinically recovered horses may mean the guttural pouches have retained some infection. Endoscopy of the guttural pouches provides visualisation of any pus or dried debris (chondroids) that harbor the bacteria. A small number of horses will recover from strangles and continue to shed bacteria from the guttural pouch, causing recurrent farm outbreaks. Detection and treatment of these “silent carriers” (\u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eS. equi\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ebacteria in guttural pouches) via endoscopy and PCR is essential for preventing disease recurrence on a farm.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eDiscuss vaccination types and recommendations with your veterinarian. Vaccination does not provide 100% immunity against\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eS. equi\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003einfection. Vaccination is not recommended during or within two years of a strangles outbreak due to the increased risk of purpura hemorrhagica.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Equigerminal","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":36642404270230,"sku":"","price":30.75,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2726\/7968\/products\/Streptococcusequibacterialculture.001.png?v=1602155562","url":"https:\/\/www.equigerminal.org\/eu\/products\/stranglers-streptococcus-equi-bacterial-culture","provider":"Equigerminal","version":"1.0","type":"link"}