A case of strangles was reported in Marion County in August, marking the fifth case of the upper-respiratory horse infection reported in 2023.
According to records from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, 26 cases of strangles have been reported throughout the state of Florida this year.
Marion County’s five reported cases represent the second highest total of any county in the state, trailing only Palm Beach County (7).
In comparison, only three cases of strangles were reported throughout all of 2022 in Marion County, including one case reported last December.
In addition to the case reported last month, cases were also reported in Marion County in March, April, and May.
Strangles is a contagious upper-respiratory infection that affects horses and is caused by the bacterium “Streptococcus equi ssp. equi.”
Strangles can cause a horse to develop a fever and can lead to the development of lymph nodes, which restrict the horse’s upper airways. In most cases, horses are quarantined and recover fully from general cases of strangles.
For more information about strangles or other infectious diseases affecting local livestock, or to report a case, visit the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services website.