Strangles, did you know...

• Strangles is one of the three most significant equine respiratory infections worldwide and is responsible for 30% of infectious diseases.
  
  
• Strangles isn't a viral infection, but it is caused by a bacterium called Streptococcus equi.  Different strains have varying levels of severity.

• In Sweden, approximately four cases of strangles are seen for every case of ‘flu.
  

• Strangles is fatal in 1% of cases, with 10% of infected horses developing ‘Bastard’ strangles, the serious complication where further abscesses form on other body organs.

• Horses can harbour the disease with no outward signs for years after infection and may shed the infective pathogen for up to six weeks upon recovery.

• Whilst 75% of horses develop immunity of up to five years or more after infection, 25% of horses may go down with the disease again within this time.

• In 2007 strangles cost at least two yards approximately £20,000 each.

• Although horse-to-horse contact is often thought to be the most common means of the bacterium spreading, the local environment and particularly shared water sources are very important modes of transmission.  It is also spread by in-direct contact such as tack and stable equipment.

• The bacterium is known to survive for 63 days on wood at 2°C and even longer in water.