FAQs

Vaccination provides the best possible protection against Strangles. As an outbreak of Strangles has both welfare and economic consequences to a herd, control of the disease is an important aspect of stable management. We recommend that all horses in a stable be vaccinated to provide the best protection against the disease.

A regular program of vaccination for all horses will usually control or very markedly reduce the incidence and severity of strangles. However the vaccine is not an absolute preventative. Vaccination will reduce the spread in an outbreak with less horses affected by strangles and those that do show signs have a milder disease with shorter recovery times. Thus, vaccination has good benefits and is the best protection possible. However vaccination does not replace the need for good stable management and procedures for introduction of new horses to a yard.

It has been demonstrated that the vaccinal strain will not pass from one horse to another.

Boosters every three months will maintain continuous active immunity of the vaccinated horses. In a group this will mean that it is unlikely that an outbreak will be seen as this will reduce the overall challenge of bacteria in the environment. Boosters every three months are suggested for horses in high risk situations that require continuous immunity against strangles.

Boosters every six months may be selected by veterinary surgeons for horses in medium risk situations where continuous immunity against strangles is not required. The duration of immunity following vaccination is three months. Therefore for the second three months the horse will be at increasing risk of disease should they be challenged with Strep. equi. However a booster at six months will restimulate the immunity. Boosters every six months maintain a horse’s primed status, and if there is a strangles outbreak in the area during the second three months, a simple booster can be given immediately. This has been shown to be of benefit in the face of an outbreak and will significantly reduce the number of horses showing disease. With less horses becoming infected this should allow a faster resolution of the outbreak.

Generally vaccination has no effect on the rideability of a horse. In unusual cases following vaccination a horse may resent the bit for a day or two. Otherwise we do not see any requirement for resting the horse although we would advise against strenuous exercise for 24 hours following vaccination.

Yes, but only if the horse has already had a primary course of vaccine. It has been shown in studies that a booster vaccination at the time of challenge will greatly reduced both the number of horses becoming infected and the degree of the signs in those that do develop Strangles. Only healthy horses with no signs of a temperature should be vaccinated.

The best way to control Strangles is to vaccinate all the horses on the yard as this will reduce the level of challenge. However, individual horses will still benefit from vaccination as their immunity will be higher than any unvaccinated horses. If the level of challenge is very high then there would still be a chance of them showing signs of Strangles but even then we would expect the signs to be less severe and for there to be quicker resolution of disease.

Examples of a high risk horse would include one in an area known to have a lot of Strangles circulating around the horse population or one that is being introduced to a large number of horses from an unknown source.

A medium risk horse would be one in an area where there have been no recent reports of Strangles and who occasionally comes into contact with new horses.

A low risk horse is one that infrequently comes in to contact with other horses.

No. This is a live vaccine and antibiotics would kill the bacteria before it was able to stimulate immunity.