Strangles cases in Northern Queensland

Biosecurity Queensland is urging horse owners in the state to consider vaccinating their horses against the highly contagious bacterial infection.

Veterinary officer Charlotte Williamson said strangles could cause fever, loss of appetite and a yellow-green nasal discharge, which leads to abscesses in the lymph nodes of the throat.

"The abscesses are hot and painful and eventually burst and leak pus," she said.

"Enlarged lymph nodes may cause respiratory distress and difficulty in swallowing.

"Occasionally, infection can spread to other areas of the horse's body and form abscesses and cause chronic illness and weight loss."

Dr Williamson said the disease occurs mainly in young horses less than five years of age.

"But horses of any age are susceptible if there's no prior immunity," she said.

"The best form of protection is an annual vaccination," she said.

She said diseases such as strangles highlighted the importance of good biosecurity measures, which include:

• Keeping horse gear and equipment clean and disinfecting equipment between use.

• Washing hands before and after handling different horses.

• Monitoring visitor movements on your property and avoiding visitor contact with your horses unless they have clean hands, clothing and boots.

• Keeping records of horse movements on and off your property.

• Quarantining new horses to your property for at least two weeks before introducing with others.

• Isolating sick horses from other horses on your property

• Feeding and tending to sick horses after dealing with other horses.