Risk factors for insect bite hypersensitivity in Friesian horses and Shetland ponies in The Netherlands.

The research is an exploration into the risk factors affecting the occurrence of an equine skin allergy, Insect Bite Hypersensitivity (IBH), amongst Friesian horses and Shetland ponies in the Netherlands; which could contribute to the development of more effective preventative measures.

Introduction to the Study

• The research focuses on Insect Bite Hypersensitivity (IBH), a type of skin allergy in horses triggered by bites from the Culicoides species of insects.
• IBH poses a significant concern for the welfare of horses.
• The purpose of this study is to identify and quantify the risk factors that could predispose Friesian horses and Shetland ponies to IBH, thereby providing insights that would inform the creation of efficient measures to reduce the prevalence of IBH.

Data Collection and Analysis

• The study analysed data from 3453 Friesian horse mares and 7074 Shetland pony mares that were scored for IBH by inspectors during mandatory foal inspections.
• The researchers utilised breed-specific multivariable logistic regression models to analyze the collected data.

Identified Risk Factors

• The research identified that a combination of the month and year of scoring, Province, and inspector significantly influenced the presence of IBH in both breeds.
• For Shetland pony mares, withers height and coat color were observed as significant risk factors. The body condition had a near significant association with IBH.

Potential Applications of the Results

• The findings from this research have the potential to contribute significantly to devising more effective measures to reduce the incidence of IBH.
• This could, in turn, improve the overall welfare of Friesian horses and Shetland ponies, particularly in the Netherlands.