Strangled!

Two recent outbreaks of a bacterial disease known as "strangles" has concerned countries relying on our horse export industry.

While the disease is widespread, countries such as Hong Kong are trying to minimise the possibility of infected horses entering their country.

The disease has a low mortality rate and responds favourably to early treatment with antibiotics, but "strangles" is highly infectious and threatens large horse establishments. Rod Hoare, NSW Equine Veterinary Officer, is currently proposing "strangles" be named as a notifiable disease in an attempt to increase awareness.

Currently diseases such as Equine Infectious Anaemia, Equine Viral Arteritis and Equine Herpes virus Abortion are classified as notifiable diseases.

This means a Veterinarian should be notified at the first sign of symptoms, and on confirmation of any of the diseases, the appropriate State body be notified.

Apart from protecting the Australian horse industry, the system of notification gives Veterinarians and State authorities a valuable reference system.

When horses are examined for export, Veterinarians must give certification stating the horse has not been in the vicinity of any disease outbreak.

This is virtually impossible to verify without a register of when and where diseases have occurred.

Rod Hoare believes Australian horse owners need to be more vigilant of serious diseases.

"The industry is currently a bit ambivalent about strangles," Mr Hoare told ASM. In contrast, he would rather see more controls in place to try to prevent any outbreaks of "strangles".

The best way to avoid the disease is through proper hygiene, and to a lesser extent, through vaccination.

The first symptoms of "strangles" include a rise in temperature, nasal discharge and an "off colour" appearance.

The distinguishing feature of an affected horse is a rapid swelling of the lymph glands. This is followed by abscesses mainly in the mouth and throat, a dangerous stage because a burst internal abscess usually means death.

Treatment is most effective when administered either before or during the forming of the abscess, but a long course of antibiotics is extremely effective against the bacteria.