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FAQs
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1. Why vaccinate against Strangles?
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.
2. Does the vaccine provide 100% protection?
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.
3. Will a vaccinated horse be able to pass vaccine strain bacteria to another horse?
It has been demonstrated that the vaccinal strain will not pass from one horse to another.
Vaccination
4. What is the advantage of the three monthly boosters?
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.
5. What is the advantage of six monthly boosters?
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.
6. My horse has been vaccinated today. Can I ride him now?
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.
7. Can the vaccine be used in the face of an outbreak?
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.
8. My horse is the only one on the yard to be vaccinated, is there any benefit in continuing?
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.
Risk categories
9. What do Intervet mean when they refer to a “high risk” horse?
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.
10. What do Intervet mean when they refer to a “medium risk” horse?
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.
11. What do Intervet mean when they refer to a “low risk” horse?
A low risk horse is one that infrequently comes in to contact with other horses.
Administration
12. Can my horse have his vaccination while he is on antibiotics?
No. This is a live vaccine and antibiotics would kill the bacteria before it was able to stimulate immunity.
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