an acute bacterial disease of horses caused by infection with Streptococcus equi, characterized by inflammation of the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract, resulting in abscesses and a nasal discharge
Also called: equine distemper
Word origin
C18: from strangle
strangles in American English
(ˈstræŋgəlz)
noun
a disease of young horses caused by a bacterial infection (Streptococcus equi) and characterized by inflammation of the mucous membrane of the respiratory tractand by the formation of abscesses in the adjacent lymph nodes