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Strangles RT-PCR

Strangles (Streptococcus equi) RT-PCR

This RT-PCR test looks for Streptococcus equi, the bacterium that causes strangles, in a nasal swab, guttural pouch wash or pus from an abscess. It can help your vet confirm strangles and protect other horses.

Sample
Nasal swab, guttural pouch wash or abscess pus
Quantity
As advised
Report
Confirmed when you book
Collection
Free in Bhopal

What this test checks

  • Genetic material of Streptococcus equi in a nasal swab, wash or pus
  • Whether the germ is present in a sick horse or in a carrier

Often discussed at these ages:FoalAdult Horse

When your vet may advise it

  • A horse with fever, nasal discharge and swollen glands under the jaw
  • A horse that has been in contact with a horse that has strangles
  • Checking a recovered horse for carrying the germ, as your vet advises

About this test

Strangles is a contagious bacterial infection of horses. It causes fever, nasal discharge, cough and painful swollen glands under the jaw that can burst. The germ spreads easily through nose-to-nose contact, shared buckets and equipment. RT-PCR (real-time PCR) looks for the bacterium's genetic material in a swab, a wash from the guttural pouch or pus from an abscess, and it can give an answer faster than culture. Some horses carry the germ without signs, so one negative sample does not always rule it out. A registered veterinarian reads the result together with the horse's signs and history.

How to prepare

A vet or trained handler takes a nasal swab or collects pus in a clean container, and washes hands afterwards. The lab confirms the method, sample needs and reporting time when you book.

Questions about Strangles RT-PCR

How is strangles confirmed in a horse?
Strangles is confirmed by finding the Streptococcus equi bacterium in a nasal swab, guttural pouch wash or abscess pus, by RT-PCR or culture. A vet decides which sample and test suit your horse.
Can a horse carry strangles without signs?
Yes. Some horses that have recovered keep the germ in the guttural pouches and can pass it to others. That is why one negative sample does not always rule it out, and a vet may advise repeat samples.

Before you book this test

Why this notice: so you know, before you book, how a test is done, what its limits are and who is responsible.

  • Where it is tested. Some tests are done wholly or partly by an independent partner laboratory. The lab tells you before booking if this test is sent out, and the report names the laboratory that did it.
  • What a result can and cannot tell you. No test is right every time. A normal result does not rule out every disease, and an abnormal result does not prove one. A registered veterinarian should read the report with the animal’s signs and history before any treatment is started, changed or stopped.
  • The sample. A sample that is clotted, too small, wrongly labelled, leaking or too old may be rejected or reported with a note, and the lab may ask for a fresh one.
  • Reporting time. Confirmed when you book. Times are estimates, not guarantees, and the lab confirms the time when you book.
  • Emergencies. A booking or a pending report must not delay urgent care. If an animal has collapsed, struggles to breathe, has fits or bleeds heavily, call a veterinarian at once.

Please read our Terms of Service, Medical Disclaimer, Privacy Policy and Refund and Cancellation Policy. Pashupatinath Vet Lab is operated by Duaji Healthcare and Tech Private Limited. This page is general information and does not replace a veterinarian’s advice.

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Ready to get your animal tested?

Book online in two minutes. We collect the sample free of charge anywhere in Bhopal, or you can send it from any district of Madhya Pradesh.

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