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Journal of medical entomology1993; 30(4); 657-663; doi: 10.1093/jmedent/30.4.657

Hypersensitivity of horses in British Columbia to extracts of native and exotic species of Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae).

Abstract: Six horses from British Columbia severely affected by Culicoides hypersensitivity, a seasonal dermatitis caused by the bites of Culicoides spp., were inoculated intradermally with extracts of six species or forms of Culicoides from British Columbia, United States, and Israel. Two native and four exotic species were thought to cause the disease in their own geographical area. The horses developed large welts within 20 min after injection of any of the six extracts, indicating an immediate (type I) reaction. The skin reactions caused by each extract peaked at or after 24 h, indicating an additional delayed (type IV) reaction. These reactions confirm that the reactions to the extracts were allergic in nature. The horses were physically irritated by each extract and developed transverse ridges in the injection area similar to those seen in natural cases of the disease, again indicating an allergic reaction. Previous studies showed that control horses injected with Culicoides extract showed only a small, short-term reaction, with no delayed component, no irritation, and no transverse ridge development, further indicating that the observed reactions were allergic in nature. The affected horses reacted to all extracts of Culicoides, despite the fact that they had not been previously exposed to most of the species, indicating that the allergen(s) was present in all the extracts tested.
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Publication Date: 1993-07-01 PubMed ID: 8360890DOI: 10.1093/jmedent/30.4.657Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Comparative Study
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

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 research investigates the reactions of six horses from British Columbia who were severely affected by Culicoides hypersensitivity, a skin condition caused by the bites of Culicoides species. They reacted strongly to extracts from different geographical regions, displaying both immediate and delayed allergic reactions, suggesting that the allergenic compound is common to all the tested Culicoides species.

Objects of Study & Procedures

  • The study focused on six horses from British Columbia that were showing severe symptoms of Culicoides hypersensitivity.
  • Culicoides hypersensitivity is a form of seasonal dermatitis in horses, provoked by the bite of certain midge species of the genus Culicoides.
  • The horses were injected intradermally with extracts of six different species or forms of Culicoides.
  • The selected Culicoides species were native to the regions of British Columbia, the United States, and Israel.
  • Two of these species were native and four of them were exotic and recognized to cause disease in their regional habitats.

Findings & Interpretation

  • Researchers noticed immediate (within 20 minutes) large welts on the horses after the injection, indicating a type I hypersensitivity reaction, an immediate allergic response.
  • Furthermore, the skin reactions reached their zenith or continued after 24 hours, suggesting a delayed, type IV hypersensitive response.
  • The horses also showed signs of physical irritation and developed transverse ridges in the area of injection, similar to what is observed in natural cases of Culicoides hypersensitivity, providing further evidence of an allergic response.
  • In previous research, control horses that were injected with Culicoides extracts only showed a minor, short-term reaction with no delayed hypersensitivity, physical irritation or development of transverse ridges, ensuring that the reactions observed in this study were indeed allergic in nature.
  • Crucially, it was observed that the affected horses responded to all different extracts from the various Culicoides species regardless of their previous exposure, implying that the allergen causing the response was common amongst the extracts tested.

Cite This Article

APA
Anderson GS, Belton P, Kleider N. (1993). Hypersensitivity of horses in British Columbia to extracts of native and exotic species of Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae). J Med Entomol, 30(4), 657-663. https://doi.org/10.1093/jmedent/30.4.657

Publication

Journal of medical entomology
ISSN: 0022-2585
NlmUniqueID: 0375400
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 30
Issue: 4
Pages: 657-663

Researcher Affiliations

Anderson, G S
  • Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, B.C., Canada.
Belton, P
    Kleider, N

      MeSH Terms

      • Animals
      • British Columbia
      • Ceratopogonidae / immunology
      • Dermatitis / veterinary
      • Horse Diseases / immunology
      • Horses
      • Hypersensitivity, Delayed / diagnosis
      • Hypersensitivity, Delayed / veterinary
      • Insect Bites and Stings / immunology
      • Insect Bites and Stings / veterinary
      • Seasons
      • Skin Tests / veterinary
      • Species Specificity

      Citations

      This article has been cited 12 times.
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      4. Kim MS, Kim HC, Bellis GA, Chong ST, Kim HS, Klein TA. Seasonal Abundance of Culicoides at Yongsan US Army Garrison (USAG) and Camp Humphreys USAG, Republic of Korea, 2010-2013 and 2014-2017. Korean J Parasitol 2021 Jun;59(3):273-280.
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      5. Larson EM, Babasyan S, Wagner B. IgE-Binding Monocytes Have an Enhanced Ability to Produce IL-8 (CXCL8) in Animals with Naturally Occurring Allergy. J Immunol 2021 May 15;206(10):2312-2321.
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      6. Novotny EN, White SJ, Wilson AD, Stefánsdóttir SB, Tijhaar E, Jonsdóttir S, Frey R, Reiche D, Rose H, Rhyner C, Schüpbach-Regula G, Torsteinsdóttir S, Alcocer M, Marti E. Component-resolved microarray analysis of IgE sensitization profiles to Culicoides recombinant allergens in horses with insect bite hypersensitivity. Allergy 2021 Apr;76(4):1147-1157.
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      7. Raza F, Ivanek R, Freer H, Reiche D, Rose H, Torsteinsdóttir S, Svansson V, Björnsdóttir S, Wagner B. Cul o 2 specific IgG3/5 antibodies predicted Culicoides hypersensitivity in a group imported Icelandic horses. BMC Vet Res 2020 Aug 10;16(1):283.
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      8. Larson EM, Babasyan S, Wagner B. Phenotype and function of IgE-binding monocytes in equine Culicoides hypersensitivity. PLoS One 2020;15(5):e0233537.
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      9. François L, Hoskens H, Velie BD, Stinckens A, Tinel S, Lamberigts C, Peeters L, Savelkoul HFJ, Tijhaar E, Lindgren G, Janssens S, Ducro BJ, Buys N, Schurink AA. Genomic Regions Associated with IgE Levels against Culicoides spp. Antigens in Three Horse Breeds. Genes (Basel) 2019 Aug 8;10(8).
        doi: 10.3390/genes10080597pubmed: 31398914google scholar: lookup
      10. Langner KF, Jarvis DL, Nimtz M, Heselhaus JE, McHolland LE, Leibold W, Drolet BS. Identification, expression and characterisation of a major salivary allergen (Cul s 1) of the biting midge Culicoides sonorensis relevant for summer eczema in horses. Int J Parasitol 2009 Jan;39(2):243-50.
        doi: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2008.06.008pubmed: 18708061google scholar: lookup
      11. Assumpção TC, Francischetti IM, Andersen JF, Schwarz A, Santana JM, Ribeiro JM. An insight into the sialome of the blood-sucking bug Triatoma infestans, a vector of Chagas' disease. Insect Biochem Mol Biol 2008 Feb;38(2):213-32.
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      12. Simonin EM, Torsteinsdóttir S, Svansson V, Björnsdóttir S, Freer H, Tarsillo J, Wagner B. Early allergen introduction overrides allergy predisposition in offspring of horses with Culicoides hypersensitivity. Front Immunol 2025;16:1654693.
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