Infectious Disease Isolation Assistant (Strangles + Pigeon Fever)

Strangles often shows fever, nasal discharge/cough, and swollen or abscessing lymph nodes under the jaw or in the throatlatch. Pigeon fever (C. pseudotuberculosis) more often forms abscesses in the chest/pectoral region or along the ventral midline; internal abscesses are possible—call your veterinarian if the horse is dull, losing weight, or running intermittent fevers.

Isolate immediately at first suspicion. Keep the horse in isolation until your veterinarian clears release based on clinical improvement and appropriate testing (PCR/culture for strangles; imaging/aspiration guidance for pigeon fever). Close contacts typically need temperature monitoring and separate stabling for 14–21 days.

≥101.5°F (38.6°C) is a practical fever threshold for horses. Record rectal temperature twice daily in exposed or isolated horses and notify your veterinarian for rising or persistent fevers.

Do not lance abscesses without veterinary direction. If an abscess drains under your vet’s guidance, collect discharge with disposable pads, bag and trash all waste, disinfect nearby surfaces, and use fly control—flies can spread bacteria, especially with pigeon fever.

Move the horse to an isolation stall or paddock with no nose-to-nose contact; use dedicated halter/lead, buckets, feed tub, thermometer, and grooming kit; wear gloves; set up a footbath; handle isolated horses last; and clean/disinfect high-touch surfaces per label contact times.

Use veterinarian-approved, label-registered disinfectants effective against bacteria. Remove organic matter first (clean), then disinfect and respect the product’s contact time. Refresh footbaths and replace solutions as directed on the label.

These are primarily equine diseases; human infection is rare, but standard precautions apply—wear gloves, wash hands, avoid face contact, and keep pets away from drainage and contaminated areas. Always follow your veterinarian’s guidance.

For strangles, your veterinarian may submit PCR and/or culture from nasal/nasopharyngeal swabs or guttural pouch samples; carriers can persist and require vet-directed clearance testing. For pigeon fever, ultrasound, aspiration, and culture/PCR help confirm diagnosis and guide treatment.

Strangles vaccination is risk-based—do not vaccinate sick or exposed horses without veterinary advice; timing matters in outbreaks. There is no widely used, universally recommended vaccine for pigeon fever; management and biosecurity are primary. Discuss regional recommendations with your veterinarian.