A commercially available immunoglobulin E-based test for food allergy gives inconsistent results in healthy ponies.

This research study examined the reliability of commercial tests used to diagnose food allergies in ponies, finding them to be inconsistent and therefore unreliable.

Objective and Methodology

The study aimed to determine the reliability of commercially available IgE-based tests used in diagnosing food allergies among horses and ponies. The procedures involved two primary stages:

• Phase I: It was viability testing for the IgE-based allergy test. Blood samples from 17 healthy Shetland ponies were collected at two different time points and sent to a professional laboratory to test for common food allergies. The results were assessed for consistency.
• Phase II: This phase involved experimentation with food allergens. Ponies that returned positive results were orally fed each of their respective allergens over a two-week period. This was done in sequence for ponies with multiple positive results, with a one-week ‘washout period’ in between.

The ponies’ clinical parameters and serum amyloid A, a marker for inflammation in the body, were monitored during the provocation trial.

Results and Conclusion

The research disclosed significant inconsistency in the test results. Out of the 17 ponies, only seven were negative at both test points. Additionally, three ponies had positive results twice, but only one pony tested positive twice for the same food allergen. There were no abnormalities noted during the provocation trials, further questioning the reliability of this IgE-based test.

Ultimately, the study concluded that the current commercially available IgE-based test for food allergies in horses and ponies doesn’t provide reliable results. This conclusion is vital for veterinarians and horse owners looking for reliable diagnostic methods to detect food allergies in equids.