Disease Alerts

Strangles has been reported in the following Wisconsin counties from November 2022 to present: 

• La Crosse County: yearling QH filly; sampled 1/30/23; reported 2/6/2023;  low positive PCR; rescued from a kill pen a few months ago; previous nasal discharge; owner needed a negative strangles test to move; 10-15 others on premises without symptoms; not vaccinated for strangles; voluntary quarantine.
• Waushara County 2 Confirmed: 7-month-old Morgan filly; reported 1/9/23, herd first affected 1/5/23; respiratory signs, abscessed lymph nodes; culture: many positive organisms;  33-year-old Arab gelding; reported 2/3/23, herd first affected 1/5/23; sampled 1/30/23;  respiratory signs, nasal exudate; PCR high positive; boarding stable (same as above); 17 equines on premises, 7 exposed, 6 exhibited symptoms; Likely source: new rescue horse added ~12/5/22, showed symptoms shortly after arrival, treated, but not tested; voluntary quarantine. 
• Jefferson County: 12-year-old Mustang Cross mare; reported 1/6/23; newly acquired 12/30/22, veterinary visit 1/6/23; horse from a kill pen and is wild; could not catch; respiratory condition: swelling of throatlatch, cough, lymph node abscessation; suspected strangles based on history and clinical signs; 6 other horses on premises; this animal is segregated from them; voluntary quarantine.
• Washington County: 18-year-old QH Cross gelding; reported 12/21/22, onset ~12/13/22; nasal discharge, fever; not vaccinated for strangles; voluntary quarantine recommended, but only partially followed; 15-20 equines at boarding stable; 5-6 equines exposed; affected horse was from an in-state rescue.
• Dane County: 8-year-old American Paint Horse gelding; onset ~11/28/22, reported 12/9/22; non-productive cough, fever, respiratory signs; strangles vaccine overdue; qPCR positive; 2 others potentially exposed; traveled to a show barn for farrier work ~ 3.5 weeks prior to symptoms; voluntary quarantine.
• Dane County: 25-year-old mini-donkey mare; reported 12/29/22, onset ~12/24/2022; mucopurulent nasal discharge, mild lethargy, fever, moderate appetite loss; qPCR positive; another equine (a rescue) showed symptoms and tested positive ~3 weeks prior to this equine; ~20 equines on premises; voluntary quarantine. 
• Dane County: 4 confirmed: reported 2/3/23; 2 geldings (one Arab/one Morgan Cross) positive on PCR; sampled 1/27/2023; boarding stable: ~100 horses exposed; strangles going through barn; at least 5 new boarders in last few months and much traffic; voluntary quarantine; these two animals were vaccinated for strangles in 2021, but not in 2022. 2 horses PCR positive: 19 year old QH Cross Mare; 16 year-old Saddlebred Gelding; 
• Columbia County: 4-year-old QH gelding; reported 12/2/22; onset 11/29/22; fever, occasional cough, mild mucoid nasal discharge, serous ocular discharge; history of transport within previous 2 weeks; qPCR positive; 2 other exposed suspects, but tested negative; no strangles vaccine; voluntary quarantine.
• Winnebago County: 10-year-old Morgan gelding: fever, nasal discharge, abscessed lymph nodes; sampled in Nov 2022, reported 12/6/22; PCR positive; boarding stable w/10-20 horses; 3 positive for strangles; was vaccinated for strangles; probably came from a new addition; voluntary quarantine.
• Oneida County: 2 Confirmed: 5-year-old jenny mule and 7 year old QH mare;: new addition 11/5/2022 to boarding stable; reported 1/2/23 suspected positive (can’t catch to test/treat); has a draining abscess; interstate import; other horse pastured with jenny came down with confirmed strangles.
• Lincoln County: 10-year-old QH mare; positive culture; private facility, separate pasture; good biosecurity; voluntary quarantine.
• Lincoln County: 18-year-old QH mare; positive this fall with mucopurulent nasal discharge and dependent edema; recovered with treatment; negative culture/PCR in December; 6 other horses did not show any symptoms; voluntary quarantine.
• Washington County: 22-year-old pony mare; onset 12/20/22, decreased appetite, fever, nasal discharge, lymph node abscessation, boarding stable, positive PCR; voluntary quarantine. 

For more information about Strangles go to: https://www.equinediseasecc.org/strangles