Results of the third round of tests on 49 horses stabled at Trackside
Louisville Training Center and other locations in Kentucky thought to be at risk from the equine
bacterial disease known as strangles indicate that steps taken to contain the
disease continue to be effective and nearly half the horses quarantined are
ready to return to the general horse population, according to a report from the
Kentucky Department of Agriculture.
The tests conducted on March 24 found that seven horses had tested positive
for the infection. That total is two more than the number of positive results
reported in the second round of tests administered on March 17, but Kentucky
state agriculture officials say the slight increase in strangles cases is not a
surprise and that was one reason they had recommended a protocol of
three separate tests, with an endoscopic examination of the throat and guttural
pouches to accompany the third examination.
The new test results show that 24 of the 49 horses that were tested
following the confirmation on March 10 of the first case of strangles at
Trackside Louisville have been found to be negative on all three tests. Those
horses are now cleared to return to the general horse population.
A total of 19 horses at Trackside Louisville had returned positive results for the
infection following their initial tests. No cases of strangles have been
reported at Churchill Downs.
Three of the horses found to be positive in their third tests are in
quarantine in Barn L at Trackside Louisville. Three more are stabled at Ellis Park, where
12 quarantined animals were transferred from Trackside Louisville last week. One more is in quarantine at an Oldham County farm.