Roanoke Valley Horse Rescue has announced that after three and a half months of dealing with an outbreak of strangles the test results for all 50 horses are negative. The animals are ready to be placed in new homes and volunteers and potential caregivers are now welcome to schedule visits again.
Strangles is a highly contagious bacterial respiratory infection that affects horses. Affected horses become noticeably ill, usually with fevers above 103F, depression, nasal discharge, cough, and greatly enlarged lymph nodes under the jaw or at the base of the neck which usually go on to rupture and drain.
The name "strangles" was coined due to the strangled breathing sounds made by horses because of the enlarged lymph glands that are characteristic of the disease.
The disease is caused by Streptococcus equi and horses begin to show symptoms within two to six days after exposure and the characteristic abscessed lymph nodes develop within one to two weeks. The lymph nodes rupture and drain and the drainage is highly contagious to other horses.