Using Veterinary Practice Data to Improve Understanding of Equine Strangles (In Progress)

People: David Brodbelt, Dan O'Neill, Kristien Verheyen, Nicola Menzies-Gow

People: Chiara Morelli, David Brodbelt, Dan O’Neill, Kristien Verheyen, Nicola Menzies-Gow

Dates: October 2024 - present

Background 

Strangles (Streptococcus equi equi infection) is a highly contagious bacterial respiratory disease of the horse1. Although this condition has very low mortality (1-2%), it is characterised by extremely high morbidity (up to 100%). This results in significant economic losses for the equine industry and adversely affects equine welfare1. Furthermore, Strangles poses a challenge to equine vets as controlling the spread of the disease during outbreaks is notably difficult.

A Surveillance system for Equine Strangles (SES) is already present but is based on lab-confirmed cases only2. The RVC-based VetCompass™ animal health surveillance system collects electronic patient records that should prove particularly useful for better understanding the frequency of the condition in veterinary-registered horses, how it is in managed by equine vets and to help identify strategies for reducing the numbers of outbreaks and consequently the complications related to Strangles.


Aim and objectives:

 The aim of this study is to explore the epidemiology, and management of Strangles in first-opinion equine practice in the UK.  

Specifically, the project seeks to: ·        

  • Use VetCompass data to describe how Strangles is diagnosed and what treatments are prescribed ·        
  • Determine whether appropriate measures are implemented to prevent the development of carriers ·        
  • Evaluate potential risk factors for Strangles by comparing laboratory-diagnosed Strangles cases from SES to practice-attending horses without Strangles in VetCompass

Funding 

This project is funded by the Royal Veterinary College.

References

1. Rendle, D., De Brauwere, N., Hallowell, G., Ivens, P., McGlennon, A., Newton, R., White, J., Waller, A., 2021. Streptococcus equi infections: current best practice in the diagnosis and management of ‘strangles.’ UK-Vet Equine 5, S3–S15. https://doi.org/10.12968/ukve.2021.5.2.S.3

2. McGlennon, A., Waller, A., Verheyen, K., Slater, J., Grewar, J., Aanensen, D., Newton, R., 2021. Surveillance of strangles in UK horses between 2015 and 2019 based on laboratory detection of Streptococcus equi. Veterinary Record 189, e948. https://doi.org/10.1002/vetr.948

Vet Compass Project Type: Horse

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