Identification of factors associated with the development of insect bite hypersensitivity in horses in The Netherlands.
Abstract: An Internet-based questionnaire among horse owners was carried out to identify factors affecting the incidence of insect bite hypersensitivity (IBHI) among horses in the Netherlands. Information was obtained for 794 horses of various breeds, but the breed distribution was not representative for the Dutch horse population. Of the horses for which information was available, 56% suffered from IBH and 44% did not. The most common clinical symptoms were pruritus, scaling, and hair loss, occurring mainly at the base of the tail and along the mane. Breed, age, region (and local habitat), stabling, type of bedding in the stable, use of the horse, deworming frequency, and season were associated with significant differences in IBH incidence. Knowledge of the factors influencing the incidence of IBH may make it possible to reduce the number of animals affected and help alleviate symptoms in affected horses.
Publication Date: 2008-07-25 PubMed ID: 18649782
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The study is about revealing the factors that influence the occurrence of insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH) in horses in the Netherlands, based on an Internet-based questionnaire filled by horse owners.
Methodology
- An Internet-based questionnaire was distributed to horse owners in the Netherlands, with the purpose of gathering information about the influences on the occurrence of IBH, a condition caused by an allergic reaction to insect bites in horses.
- The questionnaire gathered information on 794 horses of various breeds. However, the sample did not represent the breed distribution in the overall population of horses in the Netherlands accurately.
Findings
- Out of the horses for which information was available, it was found that 56% suffered from IBH, while 44% did not.
- The most commonly observed clinical symptoms in horses with IBH were itching (pruritus), skin peeling (scaling), and hair loss. These mostly occurred at the base of the tail and along the mane.
- Several factors were identified that showed a significant association with the incidence of IBH. These included the breed of the horse, age, location or local habitat, type of stabling, type of bedding used in the stable, the primary use of the horse, frequency of deworming, and the season.
Conclusion
- From this study, it was determined that understanding the influence of these identified factors on IBH’s incidence could aid in reducing the number of affected animals.
- Further, it could also help devise strategies to alleviate the symptoms in horses that are impacted by this condition.
Cite This Article
APA
van den Boom R, Ducro B, Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan MM.
(2008).
Identification of factors associated with the development of insect bite hypersensitivity in horses in The Netherlands.
Tijdschr Diergeneeskd, 133(13), 554-559.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht, The Netherlands. r.vandenboom@uu.nl
MeSH Terms
- Age Factors
- Animal Husbandry / methods
- Animals
- Breeding
- Female
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / immunology
- Horses
- Hypersensitivity / epidemiology
- Hypersensitivity / immunology
- Hypersensitivity / veterinary
- Insect Bites and Stings / epidemiology
- Insect Bites and Stings / immunology
- Insect Bites and Stings / veterinary
- Insecta / immunology
- Male
- Netherlands / epidemiology
- Prevalence
- Risk Factors
- Seasons
- Skin Diseases / epidemiology
- Skin Diseases / immunology
- Skin Diseases / veterinary
- Surveys and Questionnaires
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Schurink A, da Silva VH, Velie BD, Dibbits BW, Crooijmans RPMA, Franҫois L, Janssens S, Stinckens A, Blott S, Buys N, Lindgren G, Ducro BJ. Copy number variations in Friesian horses and genetic risk factors for insect bite hypersensitivity.. BMC Genet 2018 Jul 30;19(1):49.
- Schurink A, Wolc A, Ducro BJ, Frankena K, Garrick DJ, Dekkers JC, van Arendonk JA. Genome-wide association study of insect bite hypersensitivity in two horse populations in the Netherlands.. Genet Sel Evol 2012 Oct 30;44(1):31.
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