strangles
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- An acute bacterial disease of horses: "Strangles" is a specific infectious illness affecting horses, caused by the bacterium Streptococcus equi.
- Characterized by inflammation of the mucous membranes: The primary symptom is severe swelling and abscess formation in the lymph nodes of the head and neck, often leading to difficulty breathing.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The veterinarian was called to the stable to treat a case of strangles.
- Outbreaks of strangles can lead to quarantine measures for the affected horses.
- The main signs of strangles include fever, nasal discharge, and swollen lymph nodes.
Advanced Usage
- "To come down with strangles": to become infected with the disease.
- Several foals in the paddock came down with strangles.
- "A strangles outbreak": a sudden occurrence of multiple cases of the disease in a population.
- The equestrian center implemented strict biosecurity after a strangles outbreak was confirmed.
Variants and Related Words
- Strangler (n): This is not a variant of the disease "strangles." It is a separate word meaning a person or thing that strangles or chokes.
- Strangle (v): A distinct verb meaning to choke or squeeze the throat of someone or something, which is etymologically related but refers to a different action.
Synonyms
- Equine distemper: An older, less specific term sometimes used for similar respiratory infections in horses.
- Shipping fever: This is a different condition (pleuropneumonia) and not a true synonym, but it is another serious respiratory disease in horses that may be confused by non-specialists.
Notes on Meaning
- The term "strangles" is almost exclusively used in veterinary medicine and equine care. Its meaning is highly specific to the bacterial disease in horses.
- It is not used to describe human illnesses or general choking. The related verb "to strangle" has a much broader application.
Noun
- an acute bacterial disease of horses characterized by inflammation of the mucous membranes