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Foreword The European College of Equine Internal Medicine (ECEIM) consensus statement recently made the distinction between disease of the squamous mucosa (Equine Squamous Gastric Disease; ESGD) and of the glandular mucosa (Equine Glandular Gastric Disease; EGGD) ( Sykes et al, 2015a ). Since its publication, a number of reports have furthered understanding of the pathology and management of EGGD, such that new clinical guidelines for the management of this condition were considered necessary. The following guidelines are the consensus views of subject specialist representing authors of the ECEIM consensus statement, authors of recent clinical research, and clinical specialists active in the management of horses with this condition. The recommendations were developed using an informal two-round Delphi process, considering published and unpublished research relating to EGGD using a round table forum and online discussion. Where research evidence was conflicting or absent, collective expert opinion based on the clinical experience of the group was applied. The opinions expressed are the consensus of views expressed by the authors. The expert group was organised by UK-Vet Equine with sponsorship from Luoda Pharma.

‘STRANGLES’ – or Streptococcus equi infection – has probably been endemic in much of the world9s equid population since antiquity. Most veterinary surgeons dealing with any number of horses will recognise individual cases or herd outbreaks on a regular basis. In spite of a great improvement in the knowledge of strangles epizootiology and the techniques for the identification and treatment of its complications, disease control on a national basis remains less than ideal. The main problem is to ensure identification and effective bacteriological cure of subclinical chronic carriers of the bacteria, which form an important reservoir of infection for this condition. As well as acute clinical disease, significant sequelae can become apparent days, weeks or even months after the initial acute signs have resolved. This article reviews the clinical aspects of strangles and its sequelae, provides guidelines for managing and resolving individual cases and outbreaks, and highlights some strategies for disease prevention.