Ridecamp: RE: [RC] REACTION TO VACCINE?

I stand corrected on it being a bacterial infection rather than a virus (I
write software, so everything is a "virus" these days<g>), but she described
symptoms that were far beyond a "transient sore throat, swelling".  How do
you explain a horse suddenly developing such dramatic symptoms tied timewise
so completely with her inoculations?  What if the WNV vaccine causes an
immune system reaction that allows for other biological responses?

Since I had a very healthy horse who contracted strangles through "no
contact with other horses" but got it following a routine vet procedure, and
since I've heard this type of story several times, and since a couple of the
vets I talked with at the time mentioned the anecdotal evidence of
"carriers", why do you say that only a fraction of a percent of horses might
harbor it?  Do we have proof one way or another?

Strangles, for me, continues to be one of those horse mysteries.

Mike Sofen


-----Original Message-----

> Those are the classic symptoms of strangles - copious mucous, coughing,
> elevated temp, swelling behind/under the jawbone, depressed, don't want
> to move.  There has been talk of individual horses carrying the virus in
> their systems for years, waiting for a trigger event...something that
> compromises their immune system in a way that allows the virus to become
> active.  It may be that one of the vaccines was the trigger for an older
> horse like yours. Even though strangles is highly contagious, your other
> horses may not get it, so that's not proof.  They have to do a culture.

First off, strangles is NOT a virus--it is caused by a streptococcus
bacteria.  Second, no, horses do NOT harbor this bug for years, except
perhaps in that fraction of a percent who wall off internal abcesses.
However, it CAN live in the environment for years.  Third, the vaccine is
a live bacteria, but is sufficiently altered that it is not actually
strangles--but it CAN cause a transcient sore throat, swelling, etc.

Heidi



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