THOROUGHBRED HORSES 
3 pages
Published: 30 Jun 2026
Author(s): Gilkerson, JR.
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DownloadStrangles is a highly contagious horse disease caused by Streptococcus equi subspecies equi. It can cause fever, nasal discharge and swollen lymph nodes. It can also leave some horses as silent carriers. These horses may look healthy, yet they can shed S. equi and trigger new outbreaks.
This report, Detecting the silent carrier: Can we eradicate strangles from endemic premises?, explores how carrier horses may keep strangles active on Australian horse properties. Researchers collected blood samples from 923 horses across 36 properties in Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales. They tested each sample for antibodies to S. equi, which can show past infection or vaccination.
The study found that 15% of sampled horses had antibodies to S. equi. Some properties had no positive horses, while others had rates as high as 50%. These results suggest that many properties may have hidden carrier horses. They also show that fully naïve horse groups face serious risk if an infectious horse arrives.
The report calls for stronger testing, better case investigation, higher vaccination use and coordinated national surveillance. It also recommends whole genome sequencing to track S. equi strains and support faster action against more harmful forms of strangles in Australia’s horse industry.
Read the full report here.
This report examines strangles, a highly contagious horse disease caused by Streptococcus equi. Researchers tested 923 horses across 36 Australian properties and found 15% had...
This report examines strangles, a highly contagious horse disease caused by Streptococcus equi. Researchers tested 923 horses across 36 Australian properties and found 15% had...
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