Wisconsin mare’s strangles case highlights intake biosecurity risks

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. A separate EDCC Health Watch item in EquiManagement reported a 2-year-old Quarter Horse gelding in Marquette County, Michigan, tested positive on March 5 after developing bilateral nasal discharge on February 23; one additional horse was suspected positive, and two horses were exposed. The Michigan case is listed by the Equine Disease Communication Center as a confirmed case under voluntary quarantine, sourced to the Michigan Department of Agriculture. Strangles is caused by Streptococcus equi subspecies equi and spreads readily through direct contact, shared equipment, and contaminated environments. (equinediseasecc.org)

Why it matters: For equine veterinarians and practice teams, these reports are a reminder that rescue intake, horse movement, and apparently mild respiratory signs can all precede broader barn exposure. Expert guidance from AAEP and the strangles consensus statement emphasizes that clinically recovered horses can continue shedding, and some become longer-term carriers in the guttural pouches, which is why outbreak management typically hinges on isolation, testing, movement control, and clearance strategies rather than symptom resolution alone. (pubs.aaep.org)

What to watch: Watch for any follow-up EDCC alerts on additional exposed horses, quarantine status changes, or post-recovery carrier testing in the affected facilities. (equinediseasecc.org)