Streptocucus Equi Research Paper

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Streptococcus equi equi

Introduction

Streptococcus equi equi is small non-motile, translucent cocci found in chains or pairs bacterium. It is commonly known as strangles. Strangles is one of the most common worldwide and highly contagious infectious respiratory diseases affecting horses, mules, and donkeys.
Aside from inside of carrier horses, Streptococcus equi equi have the ability to live in the environment for four weeks. The survival of Streptococcus equi equi depends on the humidity and temperature of the environment. Strangles has the ability to survive in water sources that are out of direct sunlight, however when in direct sunlight survivability of strangles goes down. Strangles is more commonly seen in young horses under the …show more content…

The lymph nodes become hard and very painful, and obstruct breathing. Seven to fourteen days into the disease the lymph nodes will burst or can be lanced, releasing heavily contaminated thick pus with the Streptococcus equi. Once the lymph nodes have ruptured, the horse will recover rapidly. Older horses that have residual immunity may develop an atypical or catarrhal form of strangles with a cough, nasal discharge, and fever. Metastatic strangles or bastard strangles is the spread of the abscesses of other lymph nodes throughout the body, especially in the abdomen. Though it can cause brain abscesses, which can rupture and cause sudden death.
The way to make a diagnosis of strangles is by detection of Streptococcus equi DNA using a polymerase chain reaction test or to culture the pus from the lymph nodes, nose, or throat of the infected horses. The bacterial culture reveals neutrophilic leukocytosis, high elevation of white blood cells, and hyperfibrinogenemia, increased level of fibrinogen in the blood. Complex cases may require endoscopic examination of the upper respiratory tract, ultrasonographic examination of the retropharyngeal or radiographic examination of the skull to identify the extent of retropharyngeal abscesses. (Merck Manual

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