title: Prevalence of Streptococcus equi subsp. equi in horses and associated risk factors in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
abstract: The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of equine strangles and to identify associated risk factors for this disease through a cross-sectional study of nasal swabs. Nasal swabs (n=1010) from healthy equines (absence of nasal discharge, lymphadenopathy and cough) from 341 farms were plated on 5% blood agar; of these horses, 24 were identified as positive for Streptococcus equi through isolation, PCR and DNA sequencing. The estimated prevalence for individual animals was 2.3%, and for herds, it was 5.86%. Statistical analysis identified the following as associated risk factors: the number of group events that were attended by the equines (PR: 1.06); the sharing of food containers (PR: 3.74); and at least one previous positive diagnosis of strangles on the farm (PR: 3.20). These results constitute an epidemiological contribution to the horse industry and may support measures for the future control of the disease.
authors: Laboratory of Bacteriology, Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), Av. Roraima n° 1000, Cidade Universitária, Bairro Camobi, CEP: 97105-900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors: Felipe
authors: F
authors: Libardoni
authors: Laboratory of Veterinary Epidemiology, Faculty of Veterinary, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Bento Gonçalves 9090, CEP: 91540-000 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors: Gustavo
authors: G
authors: Machado
authors: Laboratory of Bacteriology, Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), Av. Roraima n° 1000, Cidade Universitária, Bairro Camobi, CEP: 97105-900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors: Letícia Trevisan
authors: LT
authors: Gressler
authors: Laboratory of Bacteriology, Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), Av. Roraima n° 1000, Cidade Universitária, Bairro Camobi, CEP: 97105-900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors: Ananda Paula
authors: AP
authors: Kowalski
authors: Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock and Agribusiness of State of Rio Grande do Sul (SEAPA-RS), Brazil, Av. Getúlio Vargas, 1384, CEP: 95150-900 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors: Gustavo Nogueira
authors: GN
authors: Diehl
authors: Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock and Agribusiness of State of Rio Grande do Sul (SEAPA-RS), Brazil, Av. Getúlio Vargas, 1384, CEP: 95150-900 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors: Lucila Carboneiro
authors: LC
authors: dos Santos
authors: Laboratory of Veterinary Epidemiology, Faculty of Veterinary, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Bento Gonçalves 9090, CEP: 91540-000 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors: Luis Gustavo
authors: LG
authors: Corbellini
authors: Laboratory of Bacteriology, Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), Av. Roraima n° 1000, Cidade Universitária, Bairro Camobi, CEP: 97105-900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil. Electronic address: agueda.vargas@gmail.com.
authors: Agueda Castagna
authors: AC
authors: de Vargas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D006736:Horses; D009666:Nose / Q000382:microbiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA / Q000662:veterinary; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D018502:Streptococcus equi / Q000302:isolation & purification*
keywords: Adenitis; Epidemiology; Equine; Respiratory; Strangles