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  Discussion on . Streptococcus zooepidemicus (Group C Beta-hemolytic Streptococci)
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New Member:
judymac

Posted on Thursday, Nov 15, 2012 - 10:58 pm:

Dr. O
I AM A NEW-OLD RETURNING MEMBER. My horse has a sinus infection. Streptococcus zooepidemicus (Group C Beta-hemolytic Streptococci) He is a 10 yr QH gelding. Very healthy except he has had this white mucus for about a yr. I was told it was allergies. The nasal swab said other.

Question: On 10/16/12 he was started on 400gm of UNIPRIM. 2 scoops every day for 9 days. 3 days later the mucus was back. Vet said to start again for another 18 days. Horse started the last jar of 400 gms on the 8th., will finish on the evening of the 17th. He is doing well on UNIPRIM, NOSE DRY NO SIGN OF MUCUS, stools good.
Tonight he has clear mucus in the nose both sides. Nostrils clear no crust.
Do you think i should try anything else?
Our vet clinic does not scope,or have the xray equipment.
I would have to take him to WSU 200 miles or to Philchuck hospital 140 miles over Stevens Pass which has snow.
Your thoughts please.
Thank you, judymac
New Member:
judymac

Posted on Friday, Nov 16, 2012 - 2:04 am:

Dr O, at times Slider would be lethargic. He has never been off his feed nor had a cough. I was told he was allergic to alfalfa. I had a barn full of 1st cutting grass hay, someone said it may be the hay,he is now on 2nd cutting grass, has pasture.
supplements Omaga Grande Complete.
Just had teeth done by a equine dentist it had been 2 ys since last done. Dentist did not see anything. Blood work up was also done when swab was taken 2 viles every thing looked good.
What about giving him Penicellin?
judy
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Nov 19, 2012 - 8:42 am:

Hello Judy,
If I understand your post, your horse has improved and doing well on the Uniprim. Many Streps are somewhat resistant to trimethoprim-sulfa preparations so if the response is poor and you believe a upper respiratory infection is the cause, by all mean switch to procaine penicillin.
DrO
New Member:
judymac

Posted on Monday, Nov 19, 2012 - 7:47 pm:

Thank you Dr. O,
I gave the last Uniprim to him Sat 17th. Sunday he had dried mucus on his right nostril quite a bit, crusty. Today he is good no sign of mucus. Is this typical of the infection? I used Uniprim because i was not that comfortable giving shots. I was told the bolus is quite thick and i would have to give him this for 10 days IM. Is there a paste or pills i could smash and put in w/hay pellets i feed?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Nov 21, 2012 - 4:58 pm:

I am afraid penicillin must be given by injection, for more on this see HorseAdvice.com » Treatments and Medications for Horses » Antibiotics and Antimicrobials » Penicillin. As to "what is typical?" I am not sure how to answer. It is typical for horses to recover? Yes. To read about the typical course of a very closely related Strep upper respiratory infection see HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Respiratory System » Strangles & Streptococcus equi.

Let's note here that there is no Steptococcus zooepidemicus anymore. It has been reclassified as a subspecie of Strep equi. The two subspecies are zooepidemicus and equi, the later of the two of course being Strangles.
DrO
New Member:
judymac

Posted on Wednesday, Nov 21, 2012 - 9:10 pm:

Dr.O,
Yes i have read the information you have on this subject. The people who have shared their experience w/giving shots of penicillin scared me and i will not give the shots.
My vet said he will not have his clients give the shots because he feels someone could get hurt due to having to give the horse a shot a day for 10 days, he says the horse could get crabby from being a pin cushion and someone could get hurt. My vet is going to take another swab and we will see what the results say before any further treatment.
Thank you for the note about the reclassified Streptococcus zooepidemicus. This was the title on the lab results this Oct.
judy
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Nov 23, 2012 - 9:36 am:

Thats good Judy but I am uncertain what your goal is with further culturing. You cannot use nasal culture alone to determine whether a horse is suffering from an infection. You can culture all kinds of pathogens from healthy horse (and human) nasal swabs. The purpose of the culture is to identify the cause of a known infection, that would be a horse with signs of not improving or worsening disease.
DrO
New Member:
nsinger

Posted on Wednesday, Jan 2, 2013 - 12:45 pm:

I am wondering if the strangles baterium would show up positive on a beta hemolytic strep culture for humans. If so, and if horses do not usually carry any beta hemolytic strep, could I do multiple cultures on my horses and feel fairly confident that, if negative, they are not shedding strep equi? There has been a case of strangles at my boarding facility recently and I am looking to move my horses to another facility, but not if they are shedding strep. Thanks.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Jan 4, 2013 - 8:36 pm:

Welcome Neil to Horseadvice ,
I believe we can help you with your question but let me get you started off right so you can get the best answer as quick as possible.

You will get more responses if you start your own discussion rather than post at the bottom on another member's discussion. Each discussion is "owned" by the original poster and all replies in that discussion should either directly or indirectly address the concerns of the original poster.


We do have a better article covering your topic where you can start your discussion. You will find it at HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Respiratory System » Strangles & Streptococcus equi. This will be a Article Page on this topic. Below the article you will find a list of already existing discussions on this topic. Under this list you will find the "Start New Discussion" button. You should first review the article as it will have important information on your subject. Next check the titles of the already existing discussions to see if your question has already been answered.

If your question remains unanswered, now is the time to Start a New Discussion. Select a short title that describes your specific concern. A title like "Help!!!" does not help others find your specific topic. Instead something like "Ace for Colic?" allows others to rapidly find and understand what your topic is about just by viewing the title. This is likely to bring more responses from those with some experience with your topic and allows members to find answers to their questions quicker.
DrO
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