Intradermal skin testing in Icelandic horses in Austria.
Abstract: Icelandic horses in Austria are commonly affected by an allergic inflammatory skin disease recurring during the summer seasons, which shares characteristic features with Culicoides hypersensitivity. However, the causative agents have not yet been identified. Therefore, intradermal skin testing (IDST) with a standardised extract of Culicoides variipennis and 21 other allergens relevant within Austria was performed in 81 Icelandic horses. All horses included into the study were treated regularly with ivermectin and had no history of administration of anti-inflammatory drugs. Forty-three of these horses were affected by summer seasonal recurrent dermatitis (SSRD). No history or signs of any other disease were evident in any horse. Pruritic dermatitis due to ectoparasites, bacteria and dermatophytes were ruled out by means of fungal culture, skin scraping and biopsy. Culicoides variipennis antigens evoked a positive cutaneous reaction in 1 of 38 normal and 3 of 43 SSRD horses at the proposed dilution of 1:50,000 or 1:25,000, and in 24 of 38 normal and 13 of 43 SSRD horses at a dilution of 1:10,000. Furthermore, no significant differences in onset or intensity of skin reactions to the 21 other allergens, including pollens, moulds, mites and insects, except deerfly and horsefly, were obvious between the 2 groups. Efficiency (percentage of correct results) for the used antigens in the skin test was 0.47-0.60. Maximal sensitivity was 0.51. Altogether, 38 of 43 SSRD horses and 28 of 38 normal horses were positive 4 h after allergen administration. The divergence between IDST results and manifestation of clinical signs found in this study underlines the difficulties associated with establishing a skin test protocol in horses within a geographic area. Whether the outcome of this study would have been influenced significantly by using Culicoides spp. present in Austria has to be clarified in future research.
Publication Date: 2002-07-16 PubMed ID: 12117115DOI: 10.2746/042516402776249083Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research investigates the potential allergens causing summer seasonal recurrent dermatitis (SSRD), an allergic inflammatory skin disease commonly found in Icelandic horses in Austria. Through intradermal skin testing with various allergens including Culicoides variipennis, the results were inconclusive, demonstrating the need for further research.
Study Context
- The study focuses on Icelandic horses in Austria that suffer from an allergic inflammatory skin condition recurring during the summer season. This condition features characteristics similar to Culicoides hypersensitivity, but the exact causative agents remain unidentified.
- The primary goal of this study was to identify these causative agents using intradermal skin testing (IDST).
Methods and Procedures
- A total of 81 Icelandic horses participated, all of which were regularly treated with ivermectin and had no known history of receiving anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Among these horses, 43 were affected by SSRD and none had any history or signs of other diseases.
- Other potential causes of pruritic dermatitis such as ectoparasites, bacteria, and dermatophytes were ruled out using fungal culture, skin scraping, and biopsy.
- The horses underwent IDST with a standardized extract of Culicoides variipennis and 21 other relevant allergens found in Austria.
Results
- The antigens produced a positive skin reaction in a small portion of both the SSRD-affected and normal horses at dilutions of 1:50,000 or 1:25,000, and a significantly higher number of horses at a dilution of 1:10,000.
- No substantial differences were observed in the onset or intensity of skin reactions to other tested allergens between the two groups of horses.
- The efficiency of the antigens used in the skin testing varied between 0.47 and 0.60, with a maximum sensitivity of 0.51.
- Most of the horses, irrespective of their disease status, tested positive for the allergens four hours post-administration.
Conclusion and Future Directions
- The discrepancies observed between the skin testing results and the horses’ clinical symptoms indicate the challenge in establishing an accurate skin test protocol in horses located in a specific geographic region, further illustrating the complexity of equine dermatitis.
- The study proposes that future research should strive to clarify if the results could be significantly influenced by using Culicoides species present in Austria.
Cite This Article
APA
Kolm-Stark G, Wagner R.
(2002).
Intradermal skin testing in Icelandic horses in Austria.
Equine Vet J, 34(4), 405-410.
https://doi.org/10.2746/042516402776249083 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- University Clinic for Horses and Small Animals, University of Veterinary Medicine of Vienna, Austria.
MeSH Terms
- Allergens / immunology
- Animals
- Antigens / analysis
- Austria
- Ceratopogonidae / immunology
- Dermatitis / diagnosis
- Dermatitis / etiology
- Dermatitis / immunology
- Dermatitis / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / etiology
- Horse Diseases / immunology
- Horses
- Intradermal Tests / methods
- Intradermal Tests / veterinary
- Pruritus / etiology
- Pruritus / immunology
- Pruritus / veterinary
- Recurrence
- Seasons
- Sensitivity and Specificity
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Herrmann I, Sanchez AJ. Efficacy and Safety of Subcutaneous Allergen-Specific Immuno-Therapy in Horses with Allergic Cutaneous and Respiratory Diseases-A Systematic Review. Vet Sci 2023 Oct 10;10(10).
- Hemmer W, Wantke F. Insect hypersensitivity beyond bee and wasp venom allergy. Allergol Select 2020;4:97-104.
- Jensen-Jarolim E, Einhorn L, Herrmann I, Thalhammer JG, Panakova L. Pollen Allergies in Humans and their Dogs, Cats and Horses: Differences and Similarities. Clin Transl Allergy 2015;5:15.
- 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.
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