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  Discussion on Delayed reaction to strangles vaccine?
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New Member:
Choicyki

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 6, 2005 - 11:05 am:

All the horses in our barn werre vaccinated four weeks ago and some received intranasal strangles. Five out of 6 horses developped injection site abcesses which I know assume to be the result of giving the other vaccines AFTER the strangles was given. My horse, who also got strangles vaccine was the only one who did not develop an abcess. Yet 3 weeks later became increasngly febrile to 106 despite antibiotics. Was subsequently transfered to OSU snf disgnosed with severe interstitial pneumonia. Over the past 5 days has gradually become afebrile,transtracheal lavage only productive of mucopurulent material,nothing on culture,Elisa tests for influenza. Still slightly tachypneic with a massively elevated fibronogen at 800. OSu seems stumped as to origin of pneumonia. Since this mare is the healthyies mare of any I have ever known, I am inclined to relate it to a delayed vaccine reaction, whether through depressed immune system from dirty injection or whtever. Any ideas?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Apr 7, 2005 - 7:54 am:

I still do not handle the IN Strangles until all other injections are given, it is near impossible to handle without contaminating your hands and the horse blows it all over the place. I can't quite make the delayed reaction work for me Judith as this would not be a typical or even rare presentation of such a event.

If they cultured Strep equi equi I could go for it as a infection. If it was a allergic reaction, it would have nothing to do with "being dirty" injection and the reaction would suggest a overly aggressive immune system not a depressed one. The problem with culturing may have to do with the administration of prior antibiotics but the pathology and very high fever suggests a virus to me. Was there a recent history of strangles in this horse or barn?
DrO
Member:
Choicyki

Posted on Thursday, Apr 7, 2005 - 11:20 am:

No history of strangles or any other illness in this barn for the past 3 years that I have boarded there. All horses are in individual paddocks and are hand led to these. Barn is well aerated, yet not drafty, very clean. No one has been away from the barn since show season ended in September.All horse in the barn receive vaccines yearly.This horse has NEVER been sick a day in her life and I have had her since she was foaled by my mare. She has never even had a snotty nose.
Her chest XRay yesterday is remarkably improved although her fibrinogen is still elevated at 800. OSU plans to continue Amp and Gent until she has received 10 days then d/c this and observe for a few more days.
Before I took her to OSu she did recieve one IV dose of Lincomycin from the local vet which I have since learned is contraindicated in horses secondary to sensitivity to developping fatal pseudomembanous colitis. I don't know if this could have increased her fibrinogen level.
OSU seems stumped as to the origin. I am just happy she is getting better. now I can only pray that she has no long term residual pulmonary fibrosis as the result of the profound interstitial inflammation. I did a couple medline searches and can't seem to find any concrete information on this question.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Apr 8, 2005 - 7:36 am:

Glad to hear things are getting better. Permanant lesions from an acute episode like this seem unlikely. Lets us know if the tests turn up a cause.
DrO
Member:
Choicyki

Posted on Friday, Apr 15, 2005 - 12:18 pm:

my mare is being discharged in two days with her fibrinogen and CBC back to normal and her chest XRAy looking pretty fine.Her M protein titer was 1:6400 which I understand is high. After having spoken to the vet from Fort Dodge, the vets at Ohio State, a true cause is still unclear. The pattern on the chest XRAY appeared hematogenous spread and I asked if injection intravascularly of PINNACLE could have done this. (Not only did the vet give the IN Strangles at the same time as the other IM injections, but he also did not use the intranasal catheter to administer it.... so then getting wild in my suppositions I though maybe he had injured her nasal passages with the syringe and shot something up a blood vessel)The answer from Fort Dodge and others is ...not sure. So, I guess I will never know the cause but at least she is better. And she will not receive strangles vaccine next year based on her high M-protein titer.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Apr 15, 2005 - 10:36 pm:

Even though the IN admin has greatly improved the vaccine, we still do not recommend it unless exposure is known to be likely.
DrO
Member:
Choicyki

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 20, 2005 - 12:32 pm:

I show my horse and I end up stalling for a few days at a time in stalls that are often set up on county fairgrounds. So I thought I was making good choices. Do you recommend getting a titer before getting the west nile vaccine?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Apr 21, 2005 - 6:31 am:

That is not routine for our practice and the above history does not suggest that the WNV vaccine is more likely to cause you grief.
DrO
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