Streptococcus equi var equi: Difference between revisions
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==Description and significance== | ==Description and significance== | ||
Streptococcus equi is a bacterium that causes the disease strangles, also known as equine distemper, in horses and other equines such as donkey, mule and zebra. This disease is most common in young and old equines, since their immune systems are not as strong because of either lack of prior exposure or aging. Strangles is an upper respiratory tract infection that is highly contagious, especially in domesticated horses. An equine with strangles will spike an extremely high fever, up to 102°F – 106°F, become lethargic and display a significantly decreased appetite. The animal will also develop swollen lymph nodes around their neck and throat, which is where the name strangles originates. The disease is spread through nasal discharge or from puss or ooze that is coming from exposed abscesses. It is easy for the disease to be transferred from equine to equine as the bacterium can live on feed troughs, water buckets or be transmitted via direct contact between animals. However, the mortality rate for strangles is less than 1%, although there are three rare exceptions of complications that are fatal. These complications are bastard strangles, which is when the disease spreads to all areas of the body, purpora haemorrhagica, which is bleeding from small blood vessels under the skin and chronic carrier status, in which a horse is a life-long carrier of the disease. It is fairly easy to recognize strangles based on these characterizations and an equine that display symptoms should be immediately isolated from any other equines, especially equines that may have just arrived to a barn for example. New comers should be isolated for two weeks and infected equines should be isolated for a six-week period. Isolation is the best solution for prevention as there is no completely trustworthy and effective vaccine for strangles. It is up to the veterinarian whether or not to give available vaccines, so this may vary from case to case. However, hygiene and intensive cleaning is very important for preventing the spread of the disease. Once infected anti-inflammatory medications, such as Bute, are prescribed to lower fevers, iodine is used to cleanse draining abscesses and antibiotics like penicillin can be administered to kill infection. | |||
==Genome structure== | ==Genome structure== | ||
Revision as of 01:44, 25 October 2011
{Uncurated}} A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus Streptococcus equi var equi
Classification
Bacteria; Firmicutes; Bacilli; Lactobacillales; Streptococcaceae; Streptococcus; equi
Description and significance
Streptococcus equi is a bacterium that causes the disease strangles, also known as equine distemper, in horses and other equines such as donkey, mule and zebra. This disease is most common in young and old equines, since their immune systems are not as strong because of either lack of prior exposure or aging. Strangles is an upper respiratory tract infection that is highly contagious, especially in domesticated horses. An equine with strangles will spike an extremely high fever, up to 102°F – 106°F, become lethargic and display a significantly decreased appetite. The animal will also develop swollen lymph nodes around their neck and throat, which is where the name strangles originates. The disease is spread through nasal discharge or from puss or ooze that is coming from exposed abscesses. It is easy for the disease to be transferred from equine to equine as the bacterium can live on feed troughs, water buckets or be transmitted via direct contact between animals. However, the mortality rate for strangles is less than 1%, although there are three rare exceptions of complications that are fatal. These complications are bastard strangles, which is when the disease spreads to all areas of the body, purpora haemorrhagica, which is bleeding from small blood vessels under the skin and chronic carrier status, in which a horse is a life-long carrier of the disease. It is fairly easy to recognize strangles based on these characterizations and an equine that display symptoms should be immediately isolated from any other equines, especially equines that may have just arrived to a barn for example. New comers should be isolated for two weeks and infected equines should be isolated for a six-week period. Isolation is the best solution for prevention as there is no completely trustworthy and effective vaccine for strangles. It is up to the veterinarian whether or not to give available vaccines, so this may vary from case to case. However, hygiene and intensive cleaning is very important for preventing the spread of the disease. Once infected anti-inflammatory medications, such as Bute, are prescribed to lower fevers, iodine is used to cleanse draining abscesses and antibiotics like penicillin can be administered to kill infection.
Genome structure
Describe the size and content of the genome. How many chromosomes and plasmids? Circular or linear? Other interesting features? What is known about its sequence?
Cell structure, metabolism & life cycle
Provide a physical and biochemical description of the organism. What kind of organism is it, what does it look like, how is it built, what are its metabolic properties, how can it be identified, what is it's life cycle, &c. In other words, describe the organism from its perspective.
Ecology (including pathogenesis)
Describe its habitat, symbiosis, and contributions to environment. If it is a pathogen, how does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, plant hosts? Describe virulence factors and patient symptoms.
Interesting feature
Describe in detail one particularly interesting aspect of your organism or it's affect on humans or the environment.
