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Streptococcus equi is a highly contagious bacterial infection that affects the equine respiratory system. Though a snotty nose is often considered the hallmark of the disease, often called strangles, affected horses also often experience fevers, ocular discharge, anorexia, lethargy and cough.

Though a strangles vaccination is available, many owners and veterinarians forgo the vaccine administration out of concern for potential side effects like purpura hemorrhagica or local abscess. 

A team of researchers, led by Dr. Camilo Jaramillo-Morales with the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, sought to determine the impact of strangles vaccinations. 

They used a quantitative polymerase chain reaction test (qPCR) to test the nasal secretions of 9,409 horses presenting with acute respiratory disease, between 3 months and 32 years old, included in a voluntary surveillance from 261 veterinary practices across the United States. The program ran from March 2008 through December 2020.

Each horse in the study received a physical and a nasal swab for testing; guttural pouches were not scoped. Treating veterinarians reported on the ill horse's age, breed and gender, as well as its transportation history, intended use, clinical signs, number of affected horses, and strangles vaccine history. 

Out of the 9,409 horses surveyed, 7.6 percent (715) were qPCR-positive for S. equi in their nasal secretions. 

Nasal swab testing also found the following respiratory infections: 

• EHV-4: 10.5 percent of horses
• EIV (Equine influenza): 9.7 percent of horses
• ERBV (equine rhinitis B): 3.3 percent
• Equine Herpes Virus 1 (EHV-1): 1.6 percent
• ERAV (equine rhinitis A): 0.1 percent

For horses that were positive for S. equi, the following was found: 

• Horse had only an S. equi infection 6.6 percent of the time
• Horses had S. equi and another infection 9.4 percent of the time
• Horses under 1 year old had S. equi less than any other age of horse
• Horses between 5 and 9 years old were more likely to have S. equi when compared to horses aged 10 to 14 or over 20 years old
• Geographic location had no effect on horses with S. equi
• More horses got S. equi in the winter and spring (27 percent) than in summer and fall (16 percent)
• Transportation history did not significantly impact S. equi cases results
• Horses used for competition or farm/ranch horses ere more likely to test positive for S. equi than horses used for other activities

In total, 9 percent of the horses had received a strangles vaccination; of those, 9 percent tested positive for the disease. The authors concluded that S. equi vaccination was associated with fewer positive cases of disease.

The authors could not draw a conclusion on which type or administration route of the strangles vaccine was most effective.

Read more at EquiManagement. 

The post Study Shows Strangles Vaccine Is Significantly Effective At Disease Prevention appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Rancho Temescal, a leading Thoroughbred farm in Southern California, has opened the gates of its picturesque, 6,000-acre property in Ventura County to house incoming tenant Fresh Start Sport Horses, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that retrains racehorses for alternative careers under the direction of founder and head trainer Cassandra Andersson. The move to relocate all Fresh Start horses and equipment from the group's former, five-acre leased facility in Agua Dulce is expected to be completed by Sept. 1, 2023.

“We are honored to welcome Fresh Start Sport Horses to our farm,” said Rancho Temescal President Tim Cohen, whose family-owned racing entity of Red Baron's Barn perennially ranks among the top winning owners at Del Mar and Santa Anita Park seasonal race meets. “My family has long operated under the philosophy of “always care” — not just “after care” — for our athletes. This exciting addition of Fresh Start and its wonderful retraining program will allow us to continue that commitment on a much more fundamental and meaningful level.”

Over the past seven years, approximately 50 horses campaigned by Red Baron's or owned by Rancho Temescal clients have been rehomed through the Fresh Start program. These graduates range in status from $1,384,604-earner Itsinthepost (Fr) and $397,140-earner Si Sage (Fr), each of whom carried Red Baron's silks to multiple graded stakes victories over the past decade, to the non-winners Fi Fi's Wild Heart and Endearing Suances, whose combined career earnings on the racetrack were just over $1,000.

“It is so rewarding to see our former racehorses thrive in their new careers, no matter how much talent they displayed on the track,” Cohen said. “So when we learned recently that Fresh Start was considering closing their facilities due to a lack of resources, Red Baron's Barn jumped at the opportunity to provide significant funding and housing so Cassandra and her crew can continue their important work here at Rancho Temescal.”

Founded in 2015, Fresh Start Sport Horses retrains Thoroughbreds for a variety of riding disciplines, including dressage, hunter/jumper, eventing and trail riding. To date, more than 100 of the program's graduates have been adopted to approved owners throughout the United States.

“We are very excited and, of course, a little nervous about the big move to Rancho Temescal,” said Andersson, who currently oversees 18 horses at various levels of training in the Fresh Start program. “The past year has been a real struggle for our charity, with inflation causing hay and water prices to double. Meanwhile, adoptions have simultaneously slowed down to a trickle because of extreme weather-related issues and the tougher economy that is affecting horse ownership in general.”

On top of these financial challenges, a broken leg last winter slowed Andersson down, but did not keep the longtime horsewoman from her daily barn responsibilities.

“It has been one thing after another this year, so I was ready to throw in the towel when Rancho Temescal made their very generous offer to house our program,” she explained. “I am so grateful for this opportunity to move our horses to such a beautiful and supportive farm. This will allow us to expand and improve upon our mission, and to work closer with people in the California racing industry as we develop more and stronger relationships.”

Fresh Start Sport Horses is currently seeking donations for its relocation efforts. To contribute funds or learn more about adopting an off-track Thoroughbred from the group's retraining program, please call Andersson at (954) 439-3101 or visit https://www.freshstartsporthorses.net.

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