Wash horses: pathogen and symptoms, methods of treatment and prevention

The first mention of the disease is found in the documents of the XVI century. And the infectious nature of washing horses was established in the 18th century. Animal disease has been experienced by farmers and horse breeders around the world. Fever, high body temperature, purulent lesions of the lymph nodes, inflammation in the pharynx and nasal cavities are the main signs of the disease in horses.

Description of disease

Myt refers to acute infectious diseases (Coryza contagioza equorum). Streptococcus is the causative agent. The incubation period is 3-14 days. The blood and lymph of an animal are the pathways for the spread of the pathogen.The disease affects horses everywhere. Young horses (aged from six months to 5 years) suffer from the infection. Foals under the age of 6 months do not get sick due to mother's milk, with which they receive immune bodies and complete proteins.

Adults (over 5 years old) can also become infected, but these cases are rare. Fatal outcomes, according to statistics, occur infrequently. However, one must keep in mind the high rate of spread and transience of the disease in horses, which increases the likelihood of the death of a large number of individuals.

Infectious agent

Myth Streptococcus does not produce spores. The causative agent of the disease has the form of a long fixed chain, formed from dozens of individuals-links, flattened in diameter (04-1 microns long). The mytaceous streptococcus is characterized by long-term preservation in the external environment. In rooms with adobe base, the infection persists for 8-9 months.

Advice! It is necessary to thoroughly wash the premises from purulent discharge from the wounds of horses, since the infection remains viable in dry pus for 11-12 months. It is difficult to neutralize with disinfectant solutions.

On straw, hay, horse hair streptococci live 20-22 days. The causative agent of the disease is sensitive to sunlight (they die after 7-8 days). When the surface is heated, streptococcus dies in 50-60 minutes, and in case of boiling - instantly.

Causes and habitat

Sources of infection are not only sick animals. Even sick horses or he althy bacteria-carrying horses pose a danger. The spread of the disease in myt occurs by airborne droplets due to direct contacts between animals (touching, sniffing). Indirect contact is a common mode of spread of infection. Streptococcus habitat: food and feeders, water and water containers, surfaces of stables where sick horses were kept.

There are several factors that provoke the appearance of myta:

prolonged transportation of horses in poor conditions;
animals are kept in improper facilities;
protracted cold;
Sharp temperature fluctuations during rainy periods.

The horses that are bred in areas with a cold and temperate climate are most often affected by washing. During the year, outbreaks of the disease are most often observed during such periods: late autumn, winter and early spring. Malnutrition of animals during drought also contributes to reduced immunity.

The course of the disease and its symptoms

Most often the disease develops and passes in an acute form. Blood and lymph spread streptococcus throughout the body of the animal. The incubation period can be from 3 to 14 days. There are two types of the course of the disease.

Typical shape

A typical horse wash is characterized by fever, an increase in body temperature up to 41 ° C.The animal has a decrease in appetite, a depressed and lethargic state. The first symptoms are inflammatory processes in the pharynx, there are problems with swallowing food and water. It happens that water is not swallowed, but poured out through the nostrils. Rhinitis manifests itself in the form of purulent discharge from the nasal cavity. On palpation, a thickening of the lymph nodes under the jaw is felt.

The inflammatory process in the lymph nodes lasts for several days, and the swelling begins to spread to the parotid region, the lower edges of the cheeks.

When the abscess is opened, thick pus begins to stand out. The outflow of pus after a while decreases, the body temperature normalizes. During the period of illness, urine output decreases, and in the process of recovery, the volume of urine increases. Myt of a typical form lasts 14-20 days.

Atypical wash

In this case, the disease in horses is mild or severe.Abortive (mild) myta is characterized by slight enlargement of the lymph nodes under the jaw, an inflammatory process in the nasal cavity. Symptoms of the disease: cough, loss of appetite, depression, fever. The infectious disease lasts for about a week.

The disease in a metastatic form is severe - the animal has enlarged lymph nodes in the chest and abdominal cavities. Sometimes there is purulent inflammation of the joints. In case of severe inflammation of the nodes of the parotid glands, pus enters the larynx, lungs, contributing to the development of bronchopneumonia. In the future, swelling of many parts of the body (legs, abdomen, dewlap) is observed.

It is impossible to foresee the development of the disease. Sometimes animals recover in one to two weeks. And sometimes the rapid spread of infection leads to the death of the animal in 3-5 days due to swelling of the larynx.

Complications that are observed after washing are also dangerous: suffocation, petechial fever.It must be admitted that signs of fever may appear in a small number of horses who have been ill with mytom (literally 1-2%). Symptoms of the disease: swelling is formed on the mucous membranes of the nasopharynx, on the legs, scrotum. On the mucosa of the new cavity, hemorrhages appear in the form of dots, gradually turning into spots or stripes. Swelling of various parts of the body is observed.

Disease detection methods

Mint streptococcus is found in horses in nasal discharge and unopened abscesses. Laboratory studies of secretions, the clinical picture of the course of the disease, pathological data are used to make a diagnosis.

When the lymphatic system is affected, inflammation of the lymph nodes is observed, which is felt on palpation. With severe suppuration, areas with abscesses are opened. The animal has a high temperature that does not subside, appetite disappears, severe exhaustion is observed.

Treatment and precautions

Myt infection is treated with local and general treatment. General use of antibiotics. To find an effective medicine, be sure to check the sensitivity of streptococcus. Usually use antibiotics from a number of cephalosporins. As an option, intramuscular injections of bicillin are prescribed (one injection per day is given for 3-4 days).

In severe form (metastatic myt), intravenous administration of alcohol 33% diluted in glucose 20-30% with the addition of norsulfazole 1% is prescribed. Caffeine or camphor is administered intramuscularly if there is a weakening of cardiac activity. The volume of water for drinking is limited, while hydrochloric acid is added to the water (8-10 ml is diluted in a bucket of water). It is recommended to do a light massage of swollen areas. If there is a threat of suffocation, a tracheotomy is done.

To speed up the maturation of abscesses in the lymph nodes, a special ointment is rubbed into the skin - sermert.The treated areas of the skin are preliminarily prepared - the hair is cut off, the skin is degreased. After gently rubbing the ointment, it is advisable to apply a warming dry bandage to the treated area of the body.

Important! Mature abscesses must be opened.

The wound is cleaned of pus, dead skin. Using a weak solution of potassium permanganate, the treated cavity is washed. The edges of the cavity are smeared with iodine solution. If the wound heals normally, regular washing of the cavity is not required. The site is treated dry.

In order to prevent the occurrence and spread of the disease, new horses are kept in quarantine for approximately 30 days. When the first symptoms of washing appear, all horses are visually inspected, their temperature is measured. Sick individuals are isolated and treated.

To prevent the spread of infection, all animals are provided with individual pens, feeders and drinkers.Stables must be cleaned and sprayed with a special disinfectant solution. In the premises, the floor, walls, feeders, buckets, animal care items are treated. Recovered horses are also wiped with disinfectants.

How to prevent mytom infection

The main goal of preventive measures is to increase the resistance of the horse's body to infection. To do this, foals older than six months are provided with good nutrition, good maintenance. The stables are kept clean - paddocks are regularly washed, dirty straw is removed.

In the summer, you need to graze animals on pastures longer. At the same time, reliable sheds must be installed in the grazing area so that the horses can hide from the weather. New individuals upon admission are carefully examined, body temperature is measured. If suspicious symptoms appear, sick individuals are isolated.

Do not underestimate even isolated and mild cases of myma in horses, as the infection causes significant harm to animals.Foals show temporary developmental disturbances. And adult horses lose their working capacity. Therefore, it is recommended to constantly carry out preventive measures.