Scottish Workshop offers hope that Equine Strangles could
become a disease of the past
The eyes of the veterinary horse world are on Scotland’s
capital city this week as a two day conference, organised
by The British Horse Society and the Animal Health Trust,
brings together the scientists and vets at the forefront of
combating equine Strangles – the world’s most
commonly diagnosed infectious disease of horses.
Meanwhile, just 20 miles away, a riding school in Stirlingshire
is currently in the grip of a Strangles outbreak where they
have employed the latest diagnostic techniques and a massive
biosecurity effort in an attempt to keep this devastating
and economically disastrous disease under control.
On the first day of the conference a prestigious Dorothy
Russell Havemeyer Foundation workshop is being held at Dundas
Castle, where scientists and researchers from all over the
world will be presenting their work, exchanging research results
and fostering new collaborations. The day will concentrate
on advances made possible through the completion of the Streptococcus
equi and Streptococcus zooepidemicus genome sequencing projects
and their implications in the prevention of Strangles.
Day two will concentrate on the clinical problem and will
consider the best diagnostic and preventive techniques that
can be adopted during an outbreak. The conference includes
consideration of carrier status, case management and the prospect
of an effective vaccine.
Openness in the event of an outbreak will be shown to be
the main defence against the spread of Strangles and the conference
endorses STEPS, the “Strategy to Eradicate and Prevent
Strangles”, which promotes increased awareness of the
disease, the importance of early diagnosis and communication
within the equine community alongside proper biosecurity as
vitally important.
Havemeyer Workshop Chairman, Dr Andrew Waller, said: “The
progress that has been made in combating Strangles over the
last 12 months is unprecedented. The genome sequencing has
enabled scientists to develop a rapid and effective blood
test, the equine industry has brought forward a new voluntary
code in the management of outbreaks, and as a result of comparing
S. equi with S. zooepidemicus we’ve got a real chance
to produce an effective vaccine”.
Meanwhile, at nearby BHS approved Kingsbarn Equestrian Centre,
they are currently experiencing the horror of a Strangles
outbreak and Centre Manager Debbie McCormack said: “I
really wish the Conference and workshop the best of luck because
it is a terrible realisation that we have had a Strangles
carrier in our midst and now the effects of an outbreak are
costing us money, work and worry.
“However, we’ve had superb veterinary support
from David Sutton at Clyde Veterinary Group and we’ve
been able to use swabs, the new blood test developed by the
Animal Health Trust and guttural pouch lavage to help manage
the outbreak. We are confident that thanks to this good veterinary
support we have everything under control and will be re-opening
very soon. It is just shocking to realise that this infection
came undetected into our yard.”
Dr David Sutton of Clyde Veterinary Group, Lanark, commented:
“It is good for Scotland to be hosting such a prestigious
conference and workshop centred upon efforts to combat a disease
that presents a significant welfare concern, with deep economic
and social impacts, that seems to be reaching endemic status
in the UK.
“At Kingsbarn one of the school horses was noted by
staff to have developed clinical signs of the disease. As
soon as this was detected the horse was moved into isolation
stables, together with immediate in-contact horses. The most
pressing further requirement then was to find the source of
the disease and prevent further spread.
“The temperature of every horse on the premises was
measured three times daily, and any horse showing a high temperature
was moved into isolation as a precautionary measure. In order
to identify a possible carrier of the disease, suspect horses
were examined using an endoscope to look into their guttural
pouches – pouches at the back of the throat. Chronic
pus was found in the pouches of one such horse, which was
then submitted for laboratory testing – including bacterial
culture and PCR.
“Further horses on the premises have also had guttural
pouch flushes and blood tests to reveal whether or not they
have been exposed to the bacteria causing Strangles. No new
cases have been seen at the Centre in the last two weeks.
This is a great testimony to the efforts and dedication of
the staff.
“Thanks to the quick isolation of the affected horses
and appropriate laboratory testing, I am confident that the
outbreak is under control.”
|
