Topic:Allergies
Allergies in horses are immune-mediated responses to environmental antigens, such as pollen, dust, mold, food, or insect bites, that result in hypersensitivity reactions. These reactions can manifest as respiratory issues, skin conditions, or gastrointestinal disturbances, impacting the horse's overall health and performance. Common allergic conditions in horses include recurrent airway obstruction (RAO), urticaria, and insect bite hypersensitivity. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of equine allergies is crucial for developing effective management and treatment strategies. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of allergies in horses, as well as their impact on equine welfare and performance.
Targeting eosinophils by active vaccination against interleukin-5 reduces basophil counts in horses with insect bite hypersensitivity in the 2nd year of vaccination Previously, virus-like particle (VLP)-based self-vaccinations targeting interleukin (IL)-5 or IL-31 have been suggested to treat equine insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH), a seasonal recurrent allergic dermatitis in horses. The IL-5-targeting equine vaccine significantly reduced blood eosinophil counts in horses, similar to human monoclonal antibodies targeting IL-5 or the IL-5 receptor alpha (IL-5Rα). Previous studies in humans have also reported an additional effect on reduction of basophil counts. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether an equine anti-IL-5 vaccine affected blo...
Identification of allergens in Artocarpus heterophyllus, Moringa oleifera, Trianthema portulacastrum and Syzygium samarangense. It is clinically important to identify allergens in Artocarpus heterophyllus (jackfruit), Moringa oleifera (moringa), Trianthema portulacastrum (horse purslane) and Syzygium samarangense (rose apple). This study included 7 patients who developed anaphylaxis to jackfruit (1), moringa (2), horse purslane (3) and rose apple (1). We sought to determine allergens in the edible ripening stages of jackfruit (tender, mature, and ripened jackfruit) and seeds, edible parts of moringa (seeds, seedpod, flesh inside seedpod, and leaves), horse purslane leaves and ripened rose apple fruit. The persistence o...
Exposure levels of animal allergens, endotoxin, and β-(1,3)-glucan on a university campus of veterinary medicine. The study aimed to determine the allergen, endotoxin and β-(1,3)-glucan concentrations at various areas on a university campus of veterinary medicine. Methods: Dust samples were collected four times a year for three years using electrostatic dust collectors (EDC) at 25 different locations on a campus of veterinary medicine and in laboratories of inorganic chemistry as a control area representing animal-free environment. Major animal allergens from dog, cat, horse, cattle and mouse, domestic mite (DM) allergens, and β-(1,3)-glucan were measured using enzyme immunoassays and endotoxin using th...
IgE-binding monocytes upregulate the coagulation cascade in allergic horses. IgE-binding monocytes are a rare peripheral immune cell type involved in the allergic response through binding of IgE on their surface. IgE-binding monocytes are present in both healthy and allergic individuals. We performed RNA sequencing to ask how the function of IgE-binding monocytes differs in the context of allergy. Using a large animal model of allergy, equine Culicoides hypersensitivity, we compared the transcriptome of IgE-binding monocytes in allergic and non-allergic horses at two seasonal timepoints: (i) when allergic animals were clinical healthy, in the winter "Remission Phase", ...
Transcription of interleukin 31 and its receptor by leukocytes after Culicoides sp stimulation is dose dependent but is not exaggerated in allergic horses or correlated with pruritus. Preliminary evidence supports a role for IL-31 in equine insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH) and pruritus. Our studies investigated IL-31 and IL-31 receptor-α (IL-31RA) transcription in leukocytes from normal and IBH horses in response to Culicoides nubeculosus. 19 normal and 15 IBH horses were recruited in the summer of 2019 (low-dose study) and 8 normal and 10 IBH horses in the winter of 2022 to 2023 (high-dose study). Normal horses had no history or signs of allergic skin disease, while IBH horses had a history and clinical signs compatible with IBH. Pruritus was scored using a visual analo...
The Effect of Insect Bite Hypersensitivity on Movement Activity and Behaviour of the Horse. Insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH) associated with biting midges is a common allergic skin disease in horses, reducing the welfare of affected horses. This study investigated the effect of IBH on animal welfare and behaviour and assessed a new prophylactic insect repellent. In total, 30 horses were recruited for a prospective cross-over and case-control study. Clinical signs of IBH, inflammatory markers in skin biopsies and behavioural data (direct observations, motion index) were scored longitudinally during two consecutive summers. No differences were observed in the total number of itching...
Development of an inhibiting antibody against equine interleukin 5 to treat insect bite hypersensitivity of horses. Insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH) is the most common allergic skin disease of horses. It is caused by insect bites of the Culicoides spp. which mediate a type I/IVb allergy with strong involvement of eosinophil cells. No specific treatment option is available so far. One concept could be the use of a therapeutic antibody targeting equine interleukin 5, the main activator and regulator of eosinophils. Therefore, antibodies were selected by phage display using the naïve human antibody gene libraries HAL9/10, tested in a cellular in vitro inhibition assay and subjected to an in vitro affinity...
IgE+ plasmablasts predict the onset of clinical allergy. IgE+ plasmablasts develop following allergen exposure and B cell activation. They secrete IgE and therefore are directly linked to maintain the mechanisms of IgE-mediated allergies. Here, we show that the presence of IgE+ plasmablasts in peripheral blood not only coincides with clinical allergy, but also predicts the upcoming development of clinical disease. Using an equine model of naturally occurring allergy, we compared the timing of allergen exposure, arrival of IgE+ plasmablasts in peripheral blood, and onset of clinical disease. We found that IgE+ plasmablasts predict the development of ...
Secrets behind Protein Sequences: Unveiling the Potential Reasons for Varying Allergenicity Caused by Caseins from Cows, Goats, Camels, and Mares Based on Bioinformatics Analyses. This study systematically investigated the differences in allergenicity of casein in cow milk (CM), goat milk (GM), camel milk (CAM), and mare milk (MM) from protein structures using bioinformatics. Primary structure sequence analysis reveals high sequence similarity between the -casein of CM and GM, while all allergenic subtypes are likely to have good hydrophilicity and thermal stability. By analyzing linear B-cell epitope, T-cell epitope, and allergenic peptides, the strongest casein allergenicity is observed for CM, followed by GM, and the casein of MM has the weakest allergenicity. Meanwh...
Approach to the pruritic horse. Pruritus in the horse may be due to several causes, the most common being a hypersensitivity response to salivary proteins in the Culicoides genera, which may coexist with atopic dermatitis, also known as an environmental allergy to pollens, molds, dust, storage mites, etc. Less common etiologies are food allergy and contact allergy, the latter often caused by owners applying various products to the skin. Other ectoparasites, such as Chorioptes mites, may also initiate pruritus. Secondary bacterial infections (usually Staphylococcus spp) may be pruritic in and of themselves. This article revie...
Protein microarray allergen profiling in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and serum of horses with asthma. The diagnostic value of allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) in horses with asthma is uncertain. A recently developed protein microarray detected abnormally high latex-specific IgE concentrations in the serum of horses with severe asthma. Objective: The main objective was to characterize the IgE profiles of asthmatic horses in Switzerland using a protein microarray platform in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). The secondary objective was to determine whether serological and BALF allergen-specific IgE concentrations correlated. Methods: Forty-four asthmatic and 39 control horse...
Effect of Hay Steaming on the Estimated Precaecal Digestibility of Crude Protein and Selected Amino Acids in Horses. Steaming hay is increasingly used to treat low-quality forage because it was proven to reduce inhalable allergens such as mould spores, bacteria, and airborne dust particles. Preliminary results have shown a substantial loss of precaecal (pc) digestibility (D) of crude protein (CP) and amino acids (AA). For this purpose, six different batches of hay from central Germany were divided into four subsamples, and each one was individually steamed. Native hay and four replicates of each steamed subsample were analysed for CP, AA, neutral detergent insoluble crude protein (NDICP), neutral detergent s...
Establishment of a protocol for preventive vaccination against equine insect bite hypersensitivity. Insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH) is a seasonal dermatitis of horses caused by IgE-mediated reactions to bites of Culicoides midges characterized by an imbalance of T-cell subsets. Iceland is free of the causative species but the prevalence of IBH in exported Icelandic horses is especially high. We have shown that intralymphatic (i.l.) vaccination with r-Culicoides allergens in Aluminum hydroxide (alum) and monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA) adjuvants induces a desired Th1/regulatory T-cell response. The aim of this study was to compare i.l. to subcutaneous (s.c.) injection. Twelve healthy Iceland...
[Epidemiological investigation on allergic diseases related to animal dander of cats, dogs and horses]. Objective: A multicenter Chinese mainland survey was conducted to investigate the sensitization distribution characteristics of cat, dog and horse dander in patients with allergic diseases, so as to provide clinicians with epidemiological data of common animal allergens and useful information for the prevention and treatment of allergies in cats, dogs and horses. Methods: The epidemiological investigation and design was adopted. This study is based on the national epidemiological survey of allergic diseases led by the first affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University. From January to D...
Targeting eosinophils by active vaccination against interleukin-5 reduces basophil counts in horses with insect bite hypersensitivity in the 2nd year of vaccination. Previously, virus-like particle (VLP)-based self-vaccinations targeting interleukin (IL)-5 or IL-31 have been suggested to treat equine insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH), a seasonal recurrent allergic dermatitis in horses. The IL-5-targeting equine vaccine significantly reduced blood eosinophil counts in horses, similar to human monoclonal antibodies targeting IL-5 or the IL-5 receptor alpha (IL-5Rα). Previous studies in humans have also reported an additional effect on reduction of basophil counts. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether an equine anti-IL-5 vaccine affected blo...
Measurement of Horse Allergens Equ c 1 and Equ c 2: A Comparison among Breeds. Horse allergens are less studied than allergens from other furry animals and these allergens must be evaluated to understand the complexity of allergy to horses. The aims of this study were to develop assays for the horse allergens Equ c 1 and Equ c 2 in dander and saliva and to determine their levels in ten horse breeds. The study also included a comparison of these findings with previous results on the levels of Equ c 4 performed on the same study population. The study population included 170 horses from 10 horse breeds including American Curly and Russian Bashkir horse, which have been sugg...
Equine keratinocytes in the pathogenesis of insect bite hypersensitivity: Just another brick in the wall? Equine insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH) is the most common skin disease affecting horses. It is described as an IgE-mediated, Type I hypersensitivity reaction to salivary gland proteins of Culicoides insects. Together with Th2 cells, epithelial barrier cells play an important role in development of Type I hypersensitivities. In order to elucidate the role of equine keratinocytes in development of IBH, we stimulated keratinocytes derived from IBH-affected (IBH-KER) (n = 9) and healthy horses (H-KER) (n = 9) with Culicoides recombinant allergens and extract, allergic cytokine milieu (ACM) and ...
Prevalence of serum immunoglobulin E against cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants in allergic and nonallergic horses, and its impact on polysensitisation in serum allergen tests. The existence of antibodies against cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants (CCDs) has been studied extensively in humans, and more recently, in dogs and cats. These antibodies can reduce the specificity of in vitro serum allergen tests. Objective: To investigate the prevalence of anti-CCD immunoglobulin (Ig)E in both allergic and nonallergic horses as well as evaluate its potential impact on serum allergen testing. Methods: Twenty-one allergic and 21 nonallergic horses. Methods: Sera were analysed for anti-CCD IgE utilising a commercial CHO enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)...
A Systematic Review of the Bioactive Components, Nutritional Qualities and Potential Therapeutic Applications of Donkey Milk. In addition to providing individualized, specific, and ample nutritional compounds, donkey milk (DM) offers immunological modulation during health and disease. Recently, DM has attracted major interest in preparing infant formulas due to its similarity to human milk in terms of high protein and lactose content and low-fat concentration. The antimicrobial, anti-inflammation, antioxidant, and hypo-allergenicity properties of DM in human infants are well-documented. The purpose of this review is to summarize the knowledge of studies done in characterizing the composition of DM, including bioactiv...
The Immune Mechanisms of Severe Equine Asthma-Current Understanding and What Is Missing. Severe equine asthma is a chronic respiratory disease of adult horses, occurring when genetically susceptible individuals are exposed to environmental aeroallergens. This results in airway inflammation, mucus accumulation and bronchial constriction. Although several studies aimed at evaluating the genetic and immune pathways associated with the disease, the results reported are inconsistent. Furthermore, the complexity and heterogeneity of this disease bears great similarity to what is described for human asthma. Currently available studies identified two chromosome regions (ECA13 and ECA15) a...
Bacterial aerosol, particulate matter, and microclimatic parameters in the horse stables in Poland. Keeping horses in good condition requires providing them with living conditions that meet welfare requirements. These animals should be accommodated with suitable space, access to high nutritional fodder and water, and a suitable microclimate in their shelters. When it comes to the environment in the stables, a serious problem is created by particulate matter (PM), which consists of bacteria. PM concentration may be responsible for developing multiple lower respiratory tract diseases in horses, including allergies and recurrent airway obstruction (RAO). In turn, these ailments may lead to decr...
Pharmacokinetics of diphenhydramine following single-dose intravenous and oral administration in non-fasted adult horses. Diphenhydramine is an H1 receptor antagonist used to control urticaria and other allergic signs caused by type I hypersensitivity reactions in horses (Equus caballus). Limited studies have been conducted on pharmacokinetics of this drug in horses, with no studies involving oral formulations. Our study investigated pharmacokinetics of an oral diphenhydramine formulation compared to intravenous administration in non-fasted adult horses. Six healthy horses underwent a single administration of three different doses of diphenhydramine (1 mg/kg intravenously, 1 mg/kg intragastrically, and 5 mg/kg...
First clinical expression of equine insect bite hypersensitivity is associated with co-sensitization to multiple Culicoides allergens. Insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH) is an IgE-mediated allergic dermatitis in horses incited by salivary allergens from Culicoides spp. IBH does not occur in Iceland, as the causative agents are absent, however a high prevalence is seen in horses exported to Culicoides-rich environments. To study the natural course of sensitization to Culicoides allergens and identify the primary sensitizing allergen(s) in horses exported from Iceland utilizing a comprehensive panel of Culicoides recombinant (r-) allergens. IgE microarray profiling to 27 Culicoides r-allergens was conducted on 110 serological s...
An allergen-fused dendritic cell-binding peptide enhances in vitro proliferation of equine T-cells and cytokine production. Allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) constitutes the only curative approach for allergy treatment. There is need for improvement of AIT in veterinary medicine, such as in horses suffering from insect bite hypersensitivity, an IgE-mediated dermatitis to Culicoides. Dendritic cell (DC)-targeting represents an efficient method to increase antigen immunogenicity. It is studied primarily for its use in improvement of cancer therapy and vaccines, but may also be useful for improving AIT efficacy. Immunomodulators, like the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4) agonist monophosphoryl lipid-A (MPLA) has been ...
Mare’s Milk: Composition, Properties, and Application in Medicine. Mare's milk is a highly valuable organic substance that has a great potential to replace cow's milk. Consumption of cow's milk causes digestive disorders in some individuals. Immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated cow's milk allergy (CMA) is one of the most common food allergies among infants. Therefore, finding a protein substitute with the same nutritional value is a priority. Mare's milk can be a good substitute for cow's milk, especially for those suffering from CMA. Prerequisites for this study were the recent interest in mare's milk, as an ancient relic of the Turkic peoples which contains lots...
Plasma and urine pharmacokinetics of hydroxyzine and cetirizine following repeated oral administrations to exercised horses. Hydroxyzine and cetirizine are first- and second-generation oral antihistamine drugs, respectively, used to treat allergic reactions in horses. Cetirizine is also a metabolite of hydroxyzine, which may lead to complexities in regulating their use in equine sporting events. The aim of the research was to be able to provide detection times (DT) from pharmacokinetic studies in thoroughbred horses to better inform trainers, and their veterinary surgeons, prescribing these substances for treatment of Thoroughbred racehorses. Six and two horses were given 9 repeated administrations of hydroxyzine HC...
[Development of fermented milk product based on mare milk and lactic microorganisms association]. Since ancient times, mare's milk has been widely used by many peoples. Thanks to its unique composition, it is now used in the nutrition of people with allergies to cow's milk, in the technologies of foods for special dietary uses, etc. To expand the range of products with useful properties, it is advisable to develop fermented milk products based on mare's milk. Numerous studies indicate that the use of fermented milk products provides various health benefits. And the use of probiotic cultures in the composition of starter cultures for fermented milk products allows you to add a number of fun...