20/ JUNE 2024 THE RIDER Testing 1-2-3 - Strangles Research


Guelph, ON Apr. 30, 2024 - Strangles, the highly contagious upper respiratory disease caused by the bacterium, Streptococcus equi (S. equi) has been front and centre on social media lately with numerous disease alerts being posted. These alerts are triggered by positive test results for S. equi and reported by an official labo- ratory to the provincial or state veterinary office. Given the po- tential ramifications of a positive test, such as animal movement restrictions for several weeks and increased costs to horse and fa- cility owners, a lot rides on the interpretation of these test results and the associated risk of disease spread to other horses, both on and off the premises. Testing for S. equi helps de-


termine that a horse is free of S. equi or, in other words, not an S. equi carrier. It is usually done when the horse has recovered from clinical signs of Strangles to determine they are no longer in- fected and capable of transmit- ting S. equi, or upon request by equine facility managers, to screen a horse for carrier status prior to coming to their facility. S. equi carrier horses are


horses that show no clinical signs of infection but harbour S. equi in their guttural pouches. They can shed S. equi intermittently from the nose for months to years.


The two tests utilized for S.


equi testing are the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and bacter- ial culture. Testing utilizing bac- terial culture detects living S. equi. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing is much more sen-


sitive than culture but detects DNA from both living and non- living bacteria. While the PCR sensitivity level can be useful as it can detect carrier horses that have a very low level of bacteria present in their guttural pouches, it can also detect transiently ex- posed/infected, asymptomatic horses, which rapidly clear the infection within a week. PCR can also flag horses that are less likely to be infectious at the time of sampling which can aid in risk management for that horse and the herd. While these tests have their


pros and cons, the relationship between S. equi PCR and bacter- ial culture has not been exten- sively studied. This is what Dr. Scott Weese of the Ontario Vet- erinary College and collaborators from OMAFRA and the Univer- sity of Prince Edward Island set out to determine in a 2023 re- search study funded by Equine Guelph; Relationship between quantitative real-time PCR cycle threshold and culture for detec- tion of Streptococcus equi sub- species equi. The 2023 study compared


PCR and culture results from 158 equine respiratory tract samples submitted to an Ontario animal health laboratory for S. equi PCR testing. Of the samples that were PCR positive (CT < 40), only a minority (7.6%) were positive for S. equi on culture. That sug- gested that most PCR positive horses were likely a low risk for transmitting the bacterium at the time of sampling. A qPCR cycle threshold (CT ) of 34.2 was the breakpoint established, signify-


help make sure no potentially in- fected horses are missed, it can start the domino effect of exces- sive control measures and costly interventions if not put into per- spective related to the goals of testing, which may vary signifi- cantly between facilities (e.g. busy show barn, racetrack or closed herd). Strangles has existed in


Testing is an important part of a recovery plan from a Strangles outbreak


ing that the likelihood of finding culturable S.equi above a CT of 34.2 was less likely and that the horse had a lower risk of being infectious at that point in time. These results were specific to this particular laboratory and cannot be applied to other laboratories which use their own testing pro- cedures. The PCR cycle threshold


(CT) is the number of cycles that occur before S. equi bacteria is detected. The higher the CT value, the lower the number of bacteria. The line is not meant to be


a green or red light but an indica- tor to aid in assessing the risk of disease transmission. Horses


with PCR CT levels above 34.2, and who have developed a carrier status, can go on to produce lower CT levels (higher bacterial counts) over time and be a risk for S. equi shedding down the road. More research is needed to understand the S. equi shedding dynamics in carrier horses. Combining culture and PCR


testing is an option which comes at a higher cost to the horse owner but can be useful for an in- depth way to investigate bacterial loads and the risk of transmission at the time of sampling. While opting for ultimate sensitivity can


horses since the 1800’s and isn’t going away anytime soon. Test- ing as part of a recovery plan from a Strangles outbreak is a no-brainer, but when it comes to using S. equi testing as part of a sickness prevention plan for your horse or facility, talk with your veterinarian and understand the impact a positive test result might have on your horse/herd and wallet BEFORE you start testing. Equine Guelph supports a


number of high-quality projects at the University of Guelph, by virtue of


funding provided


largely by the racing industry (Standardbred, Thoroughbred and Quarter horse organizations): the Horse Improvement Program from the Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, and the E.P. Taylor Foundation, started by veterinarians in the Thoroughbred industry, and now maintained in trust by the Uni- versity and Equine Guelph. Interested in FAQ’s on


Strangles? Check out Equine Guelph’s information sheet - https://thehorseportal.ca/wp-con- tent/uploads/2024/04/Strangles-


FAQs.pdf Help protect your horses


from becoming ill with The- HorsePortal.ca course, Sickness Prevention in Horses, and the EquineGuelph.ca


12-week


course, Equine Health & Disease Prevention.


About Equine Guelph: Equine Guelph is the horse


owners’ and care givers’ Centre at the University of Guelph in Canada. It is a unique partnership dedicated to the health and well- being of horses, supported and overseen by equine industry groups. Equine Guelph is the epi- centre for academia, industry and government - for the good of the equine industry as a whole. For further


information, www.equineguelph.ca.


Story by: Jackie Bellamy-Zions, Equine Guelph Photo Credit: Canva


Web Link(s): Story web link: https://thehorse- portal.ca/2024/04/testing-1-2-3- strangles-research/


Other web links: Research


study link:


https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/p mc/articles/PMC10204887/


cluding Sickness Prevention in H o


TheHorsePortal courses in- r


s e s : https://thehorseportal.ca/courses/ University of Guelph Equine Health Event


A Holistic Approach to Equine Care


Date: July 15 and 16, 2024, 10am – 3pm each day


Location: Equine Sports Med- icine and Reproduction Cen- tre, University of Guelph, 50 McGilvray Lane, Guelph, ON.


Guelph, ON – The University of Guelph, a leader in equine educa- tion, is proud to announce its up- coming Equine Health Event. This two-day event, slated to be held on July 15 and 16, 2024, will provide horse owners, man- agers, trainers and enthusiasts with a comprehensive under- standing of equine care through expert-led presentations and demonstrations. This event is a fundraiser for our wonderful teaching horses that contribute to the Bachelor of Bio-Resource Management Equine Manage- ment degree program at the Uni- versity of Guelph. Embracing a Holistic Approach The Equine Health Event is


designed to cover various aspects of equine well-being, including massage therapy, behaviour and training, saddle fitting, nutrition, first aid, and chiropractic care. By offering a holistic approach to equine care, attendees will gain valuable insights into optimizing their horse’s health and perform- ance. Expert-Led Presentations and Demonstrations Renowned equine special-


ists and industry professionals will lead interactive workshops and live demonstrations through- out the day. Participants will have the opportunity to learn


practical techniques in areas such as: • Equine Massage


by


SMARTcert practitioner Melissa Caccamo: Discover the benefits of massage therapy for relax- ation, rehabilitation, and per- formance


enhancement by


understanding the various mus- cles used in different disciplines. • Behaviour and Training by Uni- versity of Guelph behaviour ex- pert Dr Katrina Merkies and PhD candidate Caleigh Copelin: Ex- plore effective strategies for un- derstanding equine behaviour and learn new training tech- niques focused on positive rein- forcement. • Saddle Fitting by Jochen Schleese and Julia Alebrand from Saddlefit4Life: Learn the impor- tance of proper saddle fit and how it impacts horse and rider comfort and performance. • Nutrition by University of Guelph expert Dr Alex Rankovic and Madeline Boast of Balanced Bay: Understand the fundamen- tals of equine nutrition and how to develop balanced diets for op- timal health. Learn about the im- portance of fatty acids in your horse’s diet. • First Aid by certified Equi- Health practitioner Sarah Labatt: Acquire essential first aid skills to handle common emergencies and injuries in horses. • Chiropractic Care by Dr Rachel Goodman, equine chiropractor: Explore the role of chiropractic adjustments in maintaining mus- culoskeletal health and improv- ing performance.


Networking Opportunities and More


In addition to educational sessions, the Equine Health


Event will provide networking opportunities for attendees to connect with fellow horse enthu- siasts, professionals and vendors. Participants can browse exhibitor booths showcasing the latest products and services in equine care.


Register Today Don’t miss this unique op-


portunity to expand your knowl- edge and enhance your horse care skills. Space is limited, so register early to secure your spot. Tickets are $60 for one day or $100 for both days including lunch and refreshments. Visit Eventbrite for registration and event


details - https://bit.ly/EquineHealthEvent.


About the University of Guelph Equine Management Program The Bachelor of Bio-Re-


source Management (BBRM) undergraduate degree majoring in Equine Management focuses on the development of leaders with a genuine regard for all horses and their well-being, a conscious concern for the envi- ronment and a passionate interest in all aspects of the horse indus- try. The 4-year program or 5-year coop combines a solid back- ground in business, biological sciences and equine management through practical and theoretical experience. It provides in-depth understanding of the economic, environmental and social dimen- sions of all equine disciplines with a broad and current knowl- edge of horse industry issues and develops the skills to gather, ac- cess, interpret and apply industry data.


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