Mites in “head shaker” horses.

This research focuses on the common occurrence of mites, specifically Psoroptes cuniculi, in the ears of thoroughbred racing horses in southern Queensland, Australia that show the symptoms of head-shaking. By examining horses undergoing theatre surgery, it was found that roughly 20% were infested.

Background

• The study is based in Australia and deals with a health problem in thoroughbred racing horses, particularly those from southern Queensland. These horses were observed to have frequent episodes of head-shaking.
• The main cause of concern was the discovery of mites, specifically Psoroptes cuniculi, also known by its synonym P. hippotis, in the ears of these horses.

The Study

• The researchers conducted a survey where they examined the ears of horses that were under theatre surgery. This allowed for an in-depth analysis of the commonality and extent of infestations by these mites among the thoroughbred racing horses.
• During this investigation, the team discovered that around 20% of the horses were infested with mites. This significant percentage suggests that these mite infestations are a widespread issue among the population of horses studied.

Implications of the Research

• This research brings attention to a significant health issue among thoroughbred racing horses in southern Queensland, Australia. The common occurrence of Psoroptes cuniculi in the ears may be a plausible explanation or contributing factor to the head-shaking behaviour observed in these horses.
• The 20% infestation rate also suggests that more awareness and potential intervention methods might be necessary to address this health issue and improve the wellbeing and performance of these racing horses.
• While the research focuses on a specific geographical location, the findings could potentially be applicable in other regions with similar conditions, providing a basis for further investigations into these mite infestations in thoroughbred horses.