Getting to grips with strangles (veterinary media)

BHS Scotland, in conjunction with the Animal Health Trust, is hosting an international strangles conference during Strangles Awareness Week 2008 (26-30 May) to raise awareness of recent research into the disease and its prevention.

The conference, which will attract specialists from around the world, follows the successful launch of the Strangles STEPS (Strategy to Eradicate and Prevent Strangles) during last year’s initiative, which advises owners on disease prevention, including good stable management and hygiene procedures, and action to take in the event of an outbreak.

Research carried out during last year’s Strangles Awareness Week by its founder, Intervet UK, revealed that the disease is as prevalent as ever with 42 per cent of horse owners aware of confirmed cases of the disease in their area within the last month of being questioned and 50 per cent reporting outbreaks within the preceding three months¹.

The research also highlighted the need for vets to alert owners to the importance of stable management and hygiene procedures in preventing the disease with only 42 per cent of yards reporting that they have a policy in place.  In addition, educating horse owners about strangles is key with only 40 per cent of horse owners participating in the survey realising that dogs and cats could carry the bacterium which causes the disease, Streptococcus equi, on their pads and fur and only a quarter of respondents aware that the bacterium could live on wood for up to 63 days.

Alasdair King, veterinary manager at Intervet UK, says: “Strangles remains a serious problem within the equine industry and has major welfare and economic implications, therefore it’s vital that vets and owners remain vigilant for clinical signs of the disease in horses to help prevent strangles from spreading.”

For further information on strangles, Strangles STEPS or Strangles Awareness Week, which is supported by Intervet, The BHS and BEVA (British Equine Veterinary Association), please log on to www.equine-strangles.co.uk.  For details regarding The Dorothy Russell Havemeyer Foundation Workshop on Getting to Grips with Strangles email louise.holder@rw-communications.co.uk