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Australian veterinary journal2020; 98(8); 411-416; doi: 10.1111/avj.12963

Essential oil spray reduces clinical signs of insect bite hypersensitivity in horses.

Abstract: To assess the efficacy of an herbal spray combining various essential oils, with a claim of mast cell stabilisation, antipruritic, anti-inflammatory, and insect repellent effects on the clinical presentation of insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH) in horses. Methods: Double-blinded, placebo-controlled, randomised, cross-over clinical trial. Methods: Twenty adult horses with clinical IBH were treated with a daily application of herbal spray or placebo for 28 days in a randomised, cross-over fashion, separated by a>28-day washout period. Horses were examined and scored prior to and after the completion of each treatment. Histopathology was performed on four horses. Owners kept daily diaries of observations. Results: The herbal spray significantly reduced the severity of all assessed parameters (pruritus, excoriations, lichenification and alopecia; P < 0.05) compared with baseline values (pretreatment) and with placebo. Owners reported improvement of pruritus in 19/20 horses (95%) with complete resolution in 17 horses (85%) following treatment. Skin biopsies showed resolution of orthokeratosis in 4/4 horses, reduced thickness of the stratum spinosum in 2/4 horses and complete resolution of histopathological abnormalities in 1/4 horses after treatment, compared with either no change or deterioration of histopathologic lesions after placebo. No side effects were observed. Conclusions: The tested herbal spray may be an effective treatment for the management of equine IBH.
© 2020 Australian Veterinary Association.
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Publication Date: 2020-08-06 PubMed ID: 32761617DOI: 10.1111/avj.12963Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The study evaluates the effectiveness of an essential oils spray in treating insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH) in horses.

Overview of the Research Article

The study tests the implications of an herbal spray, composed of various essential oils, in alleviating insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH) in horses. The primary claim of this herbal spray is that it stabilizes mast cells, offers an anti-itching effect, decreases inflammation, and repels insects. A total of 20 fully grown horses with clinical IBH were subjected to the investigation.

Methodology

  • The research employed a double-blinded, placebo-controlled, randomized, cross-over clinical trial.
  • The participating horses were subjected to daily treatment of either the herbal spray or a placebo for 28 days.
  • Followed by the treatment, there was a washout period of over 28 days.
  • Both before and after each treatment, horses were examined and scored based on their conditions.
  • Four horses underwent skin biopsies for histopathological assessment.
  • Throughout the experiment process, the horse owners kept daily diaries, recording their observations.

Results

  • The application of the tested herbal spray resulted in a notable reduction of all evaluated parameters, such as itching, excoriations, lichenification, and alopecia, corresponding to the baseline values (pretreatment) and the placebo treatment.
  • Pruritus appeared to be improved in 19 out of 20 horses, manifesting complete resolution in 17 horses after the treatment.
  • Following the treatment, skin biopsies demonstrated healing of orthokeratosis in all four horses, reduced thickness of the stratum spinosum in half of the horses, and complete resolution of histopathological abnormalities in one quarter of the horses, while the placebo seemed to cause either no change or deteriorating histopathological lesions.
  • No adverse effects associated with the treatment were observed.

Conclusion

Given the positive findings, the researchers conclude that the herbal spray could potentially serve as an effective management solution for equine IBH. Despite the improvement showcased by the majority of the treated horses, the successful resolution of histopathological abnormalities in skin biopsies calls for further investigation.

Cite This Article

APA
Cox A, Wood K, Coleman G, Stewart AJ, Bertin FR, Owen H, Suen WW, Medina-Torres CE. (2020). Essential oil spray reduces clinical signs of insect bite hypersensitivity in horses. Aust Vet J, 98(8), 411-416. https://doi.org/10.1111/avj.12963

Publication

Australian veterinary journal
ISSN: 1751-0813
NlmUniqueID: 0370616
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 98
Issue: 8
Pages: 411-416

Researcher Affiliations

Cox, A
  • School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, Australia.
Wood, K
  • School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, Australia.
  • School of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Bishoftu, Ethiopia.
Coleman, G
  • School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, Australia.
Stewart, A J
  • School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, Australia.
Bertin, F-R
  • School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, Australia.
Owen, H
  • School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, Australia.
  • Vetnostics, QML Pathology, Mansfield, Queensland, Australia.
Suen, W W
  • School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, Australia.
  • CSIRO Australian Animal Health Laboratory, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
Medina-Torres, C E
  • School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, Australia.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Ceratopogonidae
  • Horse Diseases
  • Horses
  • Hypersensitivity / veterinary
  • Insect Bites and Stings / veterinary
  • Oils, Volatile

Grant Funding

  • N/A / Red Healer and Red Healer Laboratories

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Cox A, Stewart AJ. Insect Bite Hypersensitivity in Horses: Causes, Diagnosis, Scoring and New Therapies. Animals (Basel) 2023 Aug 4;13(15).
    doi: 10.3390/ani13152514pubmed: 37570323google scholar: lookup
  2. Rørvang MV, Nicova K, Yngvesson J. Horse odor exploration behavior is influenced by pregnancy and age. Front Behav Neurosci 2022;16:941517.
    doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.941517pubmed: 35967896google scholar: lookup
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