46
Streptococci from equine Strangles in India
Of 11 strans isolated from strangles
abscesses by Edwards, one was type 1, i.e.
Str. equi, two were type 2, six were type
4 and the remaining two were mannite
fermenters falling outside the classification
of Bazeley and Battle. The six strains
isolated from nasal discharge and freshly
opened submaxillary abscesses of cases of
strangles in this Institute, belonged to
type 4. Of the ten strains in stock and
isolated between 1923 and 1931, 8 had been
isolated from strangles pus; of these, one
was type 2, one type 4 and the other six
fell outside Bazeley and Battle's classifica-
tion. Of these six strains, five somewhat
resembled variants of type 2 strains of Ochi
and Hirao [1940], as also was the case
with Edwards' mannite-fermenting strains.
The sixth resembled the first variant from
type 1 strains of the same workers.
DISCUSSION
Bazeley and Battle found that strains
isolated from freshly opened strangles
abscesses were exclusively Str. equi and
this conforms with the findings of most
other workers. But it was remarkable
that all the strains isolated from freshly
opened sub-maxillary abscesses in the out-
break, clinically diagnosed as strangles at
this Institute, were
cently isolated strains from cases of
strangles forwarded by Edwards were also
type 4; only one was Str. equi, two were
type 2 and two others were probably
variants of type 2. Haddow and
Iyer [1939], who examined 31 strains
from cases of strangles, found 9 only which
conformed to the description of Str.
equi.
The paucity of true Str. equi (i. e.
non-lactose fermenter), the finding of type
4 in one outbreak to the exclusion of all
other types, and the general preponder-
ance of types other than Str. equi among
strains isolated from cases of strangles
in India call for some comment. If the
strains had been isolated from abscesses
opened several days previously, the pre-
ponderance of types 4 and 2 might be ex-
plained on the analogy of the findings
Bazeley and Battle [1940]. But, though
we have no data on this point regarding
Edwards' strains, we know that the
Institute strains, which were all exclusive
ly type 4, were obtaind from freshly
opened abscesses.
We have been accustomed so far to
consider 'strangles' as a specific disease
caused by Str. equi. In view of the find
ings reported in this article, and in accord
ance with the definition put forward by
Minett [1944] 'strangles' may have to be
accepted as a term used in a clinical sense
to a disease of horses and mules involving
the upper respiratory tract, frequently
accompanied by suppuration of gland
about the throat and caused by haemolyting
streptococci belonging to Lancefield'
serological group C though not necessarily
of the same biochemical and serological
type.
Admittedly, the number of strains use
in this study is small, and it may not be
possible to draw general conclusions. But
these findings call for the detailed study
of a sufficiently large number of Indian
strains from animals whose clinical his
tory is known.
SUMMARY
Thirty -nine strains of streptococci from
equine sources have been classified accord
ing to the method of Bazeley and Battle
[1940]. Seventeen of these were recently
isolated from cases of strangles in India
Contrary to expectation, only one of the
seventeen strains was Str. equi., while 1
belonged to type 4 of the authors named
Six strains from one outbreak belonged to
type 4, two others were type 2 and two
were possibly variants of type 2.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We are obliged to Mr P. L. Bazeley
Australia, for the supply of type strain
and Major W. P. S. Edwards, R. A. V. C
for sending some Indians trains.