The stables at Saint John's Rockwood Park are closed to
the public and wagon rides cancelled due to the presence of the highly
contagious horse disease called strangles.
There is one
confirmed case of the bacterial respiratory infection and three
suspected cases, said co-owner and operator Lees Doley.
That brings the total number of lab-confirmed cases in New Brunswick to three since strangles hit the province last month.
All
three are "south of Fredericton," but in separate locations, said
Nicole Wanamaker, manager of provincial veterinary services.
She declined to reveal exactly where, citing privacy reasons.
Cases have also been reported in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.
Strangles
can cause excess mucus, cough and fever in horses as well as abscess
swelling under the jaw and throat, obstructing the airway and making it
difficult for them to chew and swallow.
They may become lethargic and have a reduced appetite.
The
bacteria is primarily spread by direct contact between horses or shared
environments, such as water troughs, but the bacteria can also be
transferred via people's hands or clothing.
The infection does not affect people or other animals.
The actual number of cases of strangles in New Brunswick could
be higher than three, said Wanamaker. Her office is waiting for the lab
results on some other swab samples.
But strangles is not a
reportable disease, so her office doesn't necessarily hear from private
veterinarians who treat horses, she said.
In addition, it can take up to two weeks after exposure for an infected — and contagious — horse to exhibit symptoms.
And even when they do, it can be mistaken for a cold or allergies.
Doley said she didn't think much of it when a new horse at Rockwood Stables developed a runny nose.
"If we hadn't have had this horse checked [by a veterinarian], I would've thought she just had allergies," she said.
"And
if someone hadn't have said to me, 'Have you heard that strangles is
out there?' we probably wouldn't have called the vet. I wouldn't have
thought of that immediately. I mean horses, like kids, get runny noses
all the time."
Now, she's got five of approximately 16 horses
under quarantine, including the one confirmed case, three sick horses
and another horse that was exposed to the sick horses, but isn't showing
any symptoms.
"For the safety of the horses, we have decided to close the barn to the public," reads a sign posted on the stable door Monday.
The closure will remain in effect until the "flare up" across the Maritimes is under control, the notice states.
Strangles can be treated with antibiotics and most affected horses will recover within three or four weeks.
Doley said all of her sick horses have already improved.
"All the fevers are gone. All the runny noses are gone. None of them are coughing. They're all eating."
She's swabbing her horses every week, hoping to get negative results three consecutive times.
Only
then will she reopen to the public, she said, noting this month will be
a definite financial hit to her business, which operates year-round on
land leased from the City of Saint John.
Veterinarian Mitch Downey said the disease can be also be costly to treat and people working with animals must take precautions.
"Oftentimes,
it's complete changing of clothing, footwear, bathing, washing
diligently. Disinfecting all instruments, tools used on the premises,"
he said.
"It's very time-consuming but obviously very important in terms of preventing spread of bacteria."
Other biosecurity measures
recommended by the province include not allowing any new animals on the
premises, restricting visitors, monitoring the behaviour and
temperature of horses and isolating any sick horse as soon as possible.
Vaccine available
A preventive vaccine followed by a booster is available for about $65.
It doesn't work in the midst of an outbreak, but many horses north of Fredericton have been getting it, according to Wanamaker.
She said it's about 60 or 70 per cent effective.
"It
won't stop the disease," said Wanamaker. "It will at least reduce the
severity of the clinical signs, and hopefully the horse won't maybe have
as high of a fever, the abscesses may not appear, things like that."
Wanamaker recommends horse owners talk to their veterinarian to determine if the vaccine is the right option for them.
She is also encouraging horse owners and veterinarians to report any cases of strangles.
The first case of strangles in New Brunswick was confirmed on
May 18, according to the Department of Agriculture's provincial
veterinary service.
On May 28, the department issued an advisory
about a second case being confirmed at a different barn from the
previously diagnosed case.
A no-movement policy was implemented at
the second unidentified location, which will remain in place for at
least two weeks while the horses are being monitored, the advisory
states.
The department issued an advisory about the third case on June 1.
Source: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/strangles-rockwood-park-stables-saint-john-1.4690700