Horse Allergy: Curly Horses Allow Horse Allergic Riders To Ride Again.
Abstract: To test the hypothesis that so called hypoallergenic horses (Curly horses) allow horse allergic riders to ride again, we investigated 40 horse allergic riders in a period of 37 months. We tested these patients (pts.) by skin prick test (SPT) with different non-curly and Curly horses and studied the riding hours and horse brushing by measurements of peak expiratory flow (PEF) and Tiffeneau tests (FEV1) as well as peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF) over 12 months. The results in 37/40 pts. showed no relevant reactions of the lower airways or nasal flow. Only in 3/40 patients an initial significant fall of FEV1 was observed, reversed by a single inhalation of salbutamol and not repeated despite further riding contact. In contrast to other allergic events (e. g. baker's asthma) a further and regular contact with these horses abolished the mild allergic reactions of the start period of contact. This may be due to hypoallergenic properties of these horses, whose test material produces weaker reactions in the SPT than that of normal horses. After a period of three years, a loss of reactivity to normal horses could be confirmed in some of the riders. The tested purebreed Curly horses may be a suitable alternative for horse allergic riders if the methodological precautions of this study are followed.
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.
Publication Date: 2015-12-09 PubMed ID: 26649597DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1393396Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The study explored whether hypoallergenic horses, called Curly horses, could enable those allergic to horses to ride again. The research indicated that out of 40 individuals tested, only 3 had initial significant reactions, which were not repeated on subsequent interaction, suggesting that regular contact with these horses might reduce mild allergic reactions.
Research Methodology and Participants
- The study revolved around investigating 40 horse allergic riders over a 37-month period to check the validity of the hypothesis, which claimed that hypoallergenic horses (Curly horses) would allow these allergic riders to ride again.
- The researchers used both skin prick tests (SPT) and riding/ brushing measurements (using peak expiratory flow (PEF) and Tiffeneau tests (FEV1), as well as peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF)) to examine the reactions of the riders to both non-curly and Curly horses over 12 months.
Research Findings
- The results indicated that 37 out of 40 participants showed no relevant reactions of the lower airways or nasal flow when interacting with Curly horses.
- Significant initial reactions were only observed in 3 out of 40 participants, characterized by a substantial drop in FEV1 (an indicator of lung function). These reactions were quickly reversed by inhaling salbutamol and did not repeat despite further riding contact.
- The study also determined that in contrast to other allergic events, for example, baker’s asthma, regular contact with Curly horses eliminated the mild allergic reactions seen at the beginning of contact. The researchers attributed this to the hypoallergenic characteristics of these horses.
- The response to normal horses dropped in some riders after three years of regular interaction with Curly horses.
Implications of the study
- The weaker allergic reaction to Curly horses compared to normal horses suggests that Curly horses could be a suitable alternative for horse-allergic riders.
- However, the success of Curly horses as a suitable alternative hinges on following the methodological precautions highlighted in the study.
Cite This Article
APA
Mitlehner W, Mitlehner HC, Niggemann B.
(2015).
Horse Allergy: Curly Horses Allow Horse Allergic Riders To Ride Again.
Pneumologie, 69(12), 711-718.
https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0034-1393396 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Private Medical Practice for Pneumology, Internal Medicine, Allergology, Klappholz.
- Data management/Biostatistics, Berlin.
- University Children's Hospital Charité, Dept. of Pediatric Pneumology and Immunology, Berlin.
Citations
This article has been cited 5 times.- Victor S, Lampa E, Rask Andersen A, Gafvelin G, Grönlund H, Elfman L. Measurement of Horse Allergens Equ c 1 and Equ c 2: A Comparison among Breeds. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2022;183(11):1166-1177.
- Victor S, Binnmyr J, Lampa E, Rask-Andersen A, Elfman L. Levels of horse allergen Equ c 4 in dander and saliva from ten horse breeds. Clin Exp Allergy 2019 May;49(5):701-711.
- Zahradnik E, Janssen-Weets B, Sander I, Kendzia B, Mitlehner W, May C, Raulf M. Lower allergen levels in hypoallergenic Curly Horses? A comparison among breeds by measurements of horse allergens in hair and air samples. PLoS One 2018;13(12):e0207871.
- Morgenthaler C, Diribarne M, Capitan A, Legendre R, Saintilan R, Gilles M, Esquerré D, Juras R, Khanshour A, Schibler L, Cothran G. A missense variant in the coil1A domain of the keratin 25 gene is associated with the dominant curly hair coat trait (Crd) in horse. Genet Sel Evol 2017 Nov 15;49(1):85.
- Hilger C, Janssen-Weets B, Swiontek K. Hypoallergenic animals: A promise of hope for allergic patients?. Allergol Select 2024;8:64-69.
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