With several Ontario fall fairs cancelling their horse events this year over fears of the spread of strangles, the University of Guelph has an expert who can explain the facts around this contagious horse illness.

Prof. Scott Weese is an infectious diseases specialist with the Ontario Veterinary College’s Department of Pathobiology.

He can discuss what horse lovers need to know about strangles, which is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by bacteria, as well as ways to prevent its spread.

Weese studies many aspects of infectious diseases, including emerging diseases in animals, antimicrobial resistance in pets and optimal infection-control measures.

He holds the Canada Research Chair in Zoonotic Diseases and studies the factors associated with the transmission of infectious illnesses from animals to humans, including MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and C. difficile (Clostridium difficile).

Contact:

Prof. Scott Weese
jsweese@ovc.uoguelph.ca