Ontario Quarter Horse tests positive for strangles

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An Ontario Quarter Horse at a training facility in Wellington County has tested positive for strangles, according to an Equine Disease Communication Center alert republished by The Horse. The horse was confirmed after showing clinical signs, and the facility is under voluntary quarantine with movement restrictions and heightened biosecurity in place. The case adds to a steady run of recent EDCC strangles alerts in North America, including reports from Michigan, Oregon, and Florida, underscoring how quickly the disease can surface across different regions. (thehorse.com)

Why it matters: For equine veterinarians and practice teams, the Ontario case is another reminder that strangles remains a biosecurity problem as much as a clinical one. Ontario designated strangles an immediately notifiable disease under the Animal Health Act, 2009, in February 2023, which gives provincial officials and industry stakeholders better visibility into outbreak risk. AAEP guidance notes that transmission can occur through direct horse-to-horse contact or contaminated equipment, water, tack, and handlers, and that horses without obvious signs can still shed the organism. PCR is the recommended test for many suspect cases, while guttural pouch evaluation is important when confirming clearance or investigating carrier status. (ontario.ca)

What to watch: Watch for whether additional exposed horses at the Wellington County facility develop signs, and whether follow-up testing identifies silent carriers that could prolong transmission risk. (thehorse.com)