Horse Glanders
An ancient disease of horses, mules, and asses, glanders can do an immense amount of damage, especially where these animals are concentrated in large numbers; over 58,000 had it in the French Army alone during the last war, and many of them had to be slaughtered. Occasionally other animals and human beings get the disease. Fortunately, glanders has now been practically eradicated in the United States.
The disease, which may be either acute or chronic, is caused by the germ Bacillus mallei. The outstanding symptom is the formation of nodules and ulcers in the nasal cavity and respiratory passages,almost always in the lungs, which are seriously affected, and sometimes in and under the skin. (The skin form of the disease is called farcy). Few animals ever recover.
A serum test, an animal inoculation test, or a mallein test-made by putting a few drops of culture into the eye-can be used for accurate diagnosis; the last is the one most commonly employed because of its simplicity and reliability. Since there is no cure for the disease and no known way of conferring immunity, positive reactors should be destroyed, all exposed animals should be promptly tested, and premises and equipment should be adequately disinfected. Many States require prompt reporting of suspected cases and pay indemnities for animals destroyed under official supervision.