Intradermal skin tests in equine dermatology: a study of 83 horses.
Abstract: Allergic diseases are often diagnosed clinically in the horse without performing diagnostic tests. The purpose of this work was to contribute to the validation of intradermal skin tests in the horse. Eighty-three horses, 14 showing skin or respiratory signs of supposed allergic origin, were subjected to an intradermal skin test using 6 different allergens, positive and negative controls. The tests were read for all animals after 20 min, and for 29 horses after 1 and 4 h. Additionally, 19 horses were tested a few months apart. The comparison after 20 min of the cutaneous reactions to allergens and to positive and negative controls allowed us to propose a threshold of positivity; skin reactions with a diameter above or equal to 15 mm, or with at least a 13 mm diameter and a skin thickness similar to the positive control. There was a marked difference between the healthy group and the allergic group for Culex pipiens and Dermatophagoides farinae, although positive reactions were not rare in the healthy group. Tabanus sp. gave positive reactions in both healthy and allergic animals. There was no significant variation in the reactions observed after 20 min and after 60 min. After 4 h, the progression of the reactions was highly variable and negative controls showed a certain number of positive reactions, which negated their reliability at the point in time, and made it difficult to interpret the other allergens. Finally, the repeatability of intradermal skin tests reactions after 20 min was poor, and probably related to the influence of seasonality for some of the allergens. Further studies are required, notably with others allergens, to interpret intradermal skin tests' responses in clinical practice.
Publication Date: 2002-11-29 PubMed ID: 12455836DOI: 10.2746/042516402776250469Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Validation Study
Summary
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This research studies the use and effectiveness of intradermal skin tests as a tool for diagnosing allergic diseases in horses and proposes a threshold for positive reactions. It highlights the variability in responses to different allergens over time and the influence of seasonality, suggesting the need for further studies.
Objective of the Research
- The main aim of this study was to help in the validation of intradermal skin tests as an effective method for diagnosing allergic diseases in horses. It involved the application of these tests on 83 horses using six different allergens.
Methodology
- The researchers used a group of 83 horses, 14 of which already showed signs of possible allergies, either skin or respiratory.
- The horses underwent an intradermal skin test using six specific allergens along with a positive and negative control test.
- These tests were read and recorded at different intervals; immediately after 20 minutes, and then after 1 hour and 4 hours for a select group of 29 horses.
- Nineteen horses were also tested a few months later to check for repeatability or changes in their reactions.
Findings
- By comparing the skin reactions to the allergens and control tests taken after 20 minutes, a threshold for positive reactions was proposed.
- There was a significant difference in reactions between the group of horses that were healthy and those that were allergic to Culex pipiens and Dermatophagoides farinae. However, even some of the healthy horses had positive reactions.
- Another allergen, Tabanus sp., produced positive reactions in both healthy and allergic horses.
- Comparing the reactions after 20 minutes and 60 minutes showed no significant variation. However, reactions after 4 hours were highly variable and unreliable due to some false-positive reactions in the negative controls, making interpretation difficult.
- Overall repeatability of the skin test reactions taken after 20 minutes was found to be poor, hinting at the possible influence of seasonality on some allergens.
Conclusion and Next Steps
- The study underlines the potential of intradermal skin tests in diagnosing allergic diseases in horses. However, it also reveals the challenges and complexities involved due to variability in responses over time and the potential influence of seasonality on different allergens.
- Further research is necessary to enhance interpretation of these skin test responses in a clinical setting, and to explore other allergens.
Cite This Article
APA
Lebis C, Bourdeau P, Marzin-Keller F.
(2002).
Intradermal skin tests in equine dermatology: a study of 83 horses.
Equine Vet J, 34(7), 666-671.
https://doi.org/10.2746/042516402776250469 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Clinique Vétérinaire, Pont-L'Abbé, France.
MeSH Terms
- Allergens
- Animals
- Case-Control Studies
- Female
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / immunology
- Horses
- Hypersensitivity, Delayed / diagnosis
- Hypersensitivity, Delayed / immunology
- Hypersensitivity, Delayed / veterinary
- Hypersensitivity, Immediate / diagnosis
- Hypersensitivity, Immediate / immunology
- Hypersensitivity, Immediate / veterinary
- Intradermal Tests / methods
- Intradermal Tests / standards
- Intradermal Tests / veterinary
- Male
- Reproducibility of Results
- Seasons
- Sensitivity and Specificity
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