11 February 2011
Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health, the European market leader in equine vaccines, is pleased to announces that it is re-introducing Equilis StrepE, the only strangles vaccine for horses in Europe. This vaccine was withdrawn from the market in 2007 for stability reasons. This issue has now been resolved and we look forward to resuming our support for strangles management programmes.
Equilis StrepE is administered through a submucosal injection in the upper lip of the horse and provides immunity for three months following two initial injections, four weeks apart. The vaccine significantly reduces clinical signs of strangles and occurrence of lymph node abscesses in horses that are at risk of infection.
Strangles is a highly contagious infectious disease in horses worldwide and it is caused by the bacterium Streptococcus equi subsp. equi. It is one of the most common bacterial equine respiratory infections and may cause major economic losses to the equine industry due to its prolonged course, recovery period and associated complications. It is accompanied by fever, purulent nasal discharge and abscesses in the head and neck regional lymph nodes. Mortality is rare, but up to ten percent of recovered animals become chronic carriers of the bacteria and subsequently can spread the disease.
