Strangles

For other uses, see strangling.
This article is about a disease in equines also known as "distemper". For other diseases known as "distemper", see Distemper. For "puppy strangles", see Juvenile cellulitis.
Colonies of Streptococcus equi on a blood agar plate

Strangles (equine distemper) is a contagious upper respiratory tract infection of horses and other equines caused by a Gram-positive bacterium, Streptococcus equi.[1] As a result, the lymph nodes swell, compressing the pharynx, larynx, and trachea, and can cause airway obstruction leading to death, hence the name strangles.[2] Strangles is enzootic in domesticated horses worldwide. The contagious nature of the infection has at times led to limitations on sporting events.[3]

  1. ^ "Strangles in Horses". www.omafra.gov.on.ca. Archived from the original on 2019-10-30. Retrieved 2016-11-24.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Race club downplays 'strangles' impact". ABC.au News. 1 May 2012. Retrieved 16 May 2012.