Wisconsin mare tests positive for strangles after rescue transfer

A mare in Jefferson County, Wisconsin, has tested positive for strangles after arriving from a rescue, according to an EDCC Health Watch report published by Equus Magazine. The case was reported through the Equine Disease Communication Center, which distributes verified equine infectious disease alerts, and the horse is currently living at a private premises in the county. The report points to animal movement from a rescue setting as the key epidemiologic detail, a reminder that horses entering new homes can carry contagious respiratory disease even before a full health workup is completed. (equinediseasecc.org)

Why it matters: For equine veterinarians and practice teams, the case underscores a familiar but important risk point: intake of rescue, sale, or newly purchased horses. AAEP guidance says strangles is highly contagious, can spread through direct contact and contaminated equipment, and can also be shed by horses without obvious clinical signs. The organization recommends isolating new arrivals for about three weeks, monitoring temperatures, and considering further testing, including guttural pouch evaluation in some cases, before introducing them to the resident herd. (aaep.org)

What to watch: Watch for any additional Wisconsin alerts tied to the same rescue source, along with whether exposed horses are quarantined, tested, or develop secondary cases. (equinediseasecc.org)