The research teams at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) and Karolinska Institutet are specialised in the genetics of streptococci and staphylococci, in mechanisms of bacterial infections and experimental infection models. The combined research about Streptococcus equi causing strangles has so far led to four thesis works and approx. 20 scientific publications.

Streptococcus zooepidemicus is very closely related to S. equi. However, they cause different diseases.

S. equi causes strangles resulting in high temperature and abscess formation in the lymph nodes of the head and neck region.

S. zooepidemicus causes variable diseases in horses and other animals, including humans. It has become apparent that the isolates of S. zooepidemicus most similar to S. equi are related to reproductive disorders in the horse (abortions). With molecular biological methods there are now good chances to develop effective and safe vaccines also against S. zooepidemicus.