Glanders in Horses: Signs, Risk to People and Testing
Short answer
Glanders is a serious notifiable bacterial disease of horses that can pass to people. A vet should take the sample for the antibody test, which is a screening step and not an official verdict.
For: Horses Adult Horse
By Pashupatinath Vet Lab Share
Glanders is a serious bacterial disease of horses that can also pass to people. Signs may include a thick nasal discharge, ulcers inside the nose and lumps in the skin, although some horses show very little. A blood test for antibodies can serve as a screening step, and because the disease is notifiable, a vet should always be involved.
What is glanders and how does it spread?
Glanders is caused by a bacterium called Burkholderia mallei. An infected horse spreads it through the discharge from its nose and from its skin sores. The germ travels on shared water troughs, feed buckets, brushes, harness and hands, so a stable where equipment is shared is at more risk.
Glanders is notifiable. Owners should tell their veterinarian or the animal husbandry department about any horse they suspect has it.
What signs may you notice?
Common signs include:
- a thick nasal discharge, sometimes streaked with blood
- ulcers or small nodules inside the nostrils
- hard lumps under the skin that may open and ooze
- swollen glands under the jaw, a cough and fever
Some infected horses carry the bacteria for a long time with only mild or occasional signs, which makes them hard to spot. These signs can also come from other infections, so only a vet's examination and tests can tell.
What should you do if you suspect glanders?
Keep the horse apart from the others, and keep its bucket, brushes and harness separate. Do not move it, sell it or take it to a show. Call your vet and tell the animal husbandry department. Wear gloves whenever you must handle the horse, and let only as few people as possible go near it until the vet has seen it.
Why is glanders a risk to people?
The bacteria can pass from an infected horse to a person who touches discharge, pus or soiled equipment. They can enter through cuts and scratches, or through the eyes, nose and mouth. Grooms, owners and vets are the people most exposed.
Wear gloves around a horse with discharge or sores, wash your hands and forearms well with soap afterwards, and do not touch your face while working. If you feel unwell, speak to a doctor and say that you work with horses.
Why does a vet take the sample?
Because of the risk to people, glanders samples need careful handling. A veterinarian knows how to restrain the horse safely, protect against splashes, draw blood properly, pack the tube so it cannot leak and complete any records the authorities may need. Samples of this kind are handled under strict safety rules in the lab as well.
Please phone the lab before sending anything, so that the lab can confirm what the sample needs. Do not carry a sick horse's sample around loose in a bag.
What does the glanders antibody test show?
The Glanders (Burkholderia mallei) Antibody Test looks for antibodies to the glanders bacterium in serum. Antibodies are proteins the body makes after meeting a germ. This is a screening test. A positive result may indicate that the horse has met the bacterium, but it does not settle the matter, and official confirmation is for the authorities to decide. A negative result may miss a very recent infection, since antibodies take time to appear.
A Complete Blood Count (CBC) can show signs of infection, such as changes in the white cells, but it cannot name glanders. For stables that want several checks together, the Horse Disease Screening Pack typically groups the glanders test with tests for EIA, surra and tick fever. The exact list is confirmed when you book.
A registered veterinarian reads every result with the horse's signs and history, and decides whether to repeat the test or add others. A sick horse should never wait for a report before it is examined.
Read next
If your stable includes breeding mares, Mare Breeding and the Progesterone Test shows how one hormone test supports a breeding plan. For a stable that expects newborns, Newborn Foal: Why the IgG Test Matters in the First Days explains the early blood check that matters for a foal.
Testing in Bhopal
Please call or WhatsApp +91 88175 01118 before you send a glanders sample, because the lab confirms the method, sample needs and reporting time when you book. The lab is at C-200, C Sector, Shahpura, Bhopal. Free collection applies within Bhopal, and other districts can use courier, bus parcel or their own vet to send the packed tube.
This article is general information and does not replace a veterinarian’s advice. Please talk to a registered veterinarian about your animal’s signs, tests and treatment.