Omneity® Pellets
All-In-One Vitamin & Mineral Pellet
Summer eczema in exported Icelandic horses: influence of environmental and genetic factors.
Abstract: A cross sectional study was designed to estimate the prevalence of summer eczema (a chronic, recurrent seasonal dermatitis) in exported Icelandic horses and the influence of environmental and genetic factors on the development of the disease. Among 330 horses, which had been exported to Germany, Denmark and Sweden, 114 (34.5%) were found to have clinical signs of summer eczema. The prevalence was highest 2 years after export and the exposure to the biting midges Culicoides spp., was found to be the main risk factor for developing the disease. Genetic influence on the sensitivity for the disease was not established. It was concluded that exported Icelandic horses are predisposed for summer dermatitis and the fact that they are not introduced to the antigens of the biting midges early in live, due to it's absence in Iceland, is likely to explain the high prevalence of the disease after export.
Publication Date: 2006-05-26 PubMed ID: 16987399PubMed Central: PMC1513129DOI: 10.1186/1751-0147-48-3Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
This study investigates the prevalence of summer eczema—a chronic, recurring skin disease—in exported Icelandic horses, and how environmental and genetic factors may affect the disease. The study found a high rate of summer eczema among 330 Icelandic horses sent to Germany, Denmark, and Sweden, with exposure to biting midges identified as a significant risk. The influence of genetics on the disease was not confirmed.
Summary of the Research
- The researchers conducted a cross-sectional study to determine the prevalence of summer eczema—a recurrent type of dermatitis that often worsens seasonally—in Icelandic horses exported to Germany, Denmark, and Sweden.
- Summer eczema was observed in 114 out of 330 exported horses, accounting for 34.5% of the group. The occurrence of the disease was the greatest two years post-exportation.
Role of Environmental and Genetic Factors
- The primary risk factor for the development of summer eczema in these horses was exposure to biting midges of the genus Culicoides. These insects are prevalent in the environments the horses were sent to, but are absent in the horses’ native Iceland.
- From the study, the researchers were unable to determine a clear genetic influence on the sensitivity towards the disease.
Conclusions of the Study
- The demonstrated prevalence of summer eczema in Icelandic horses shipped overseas points towards a predisposition among these animals for the dermatitis.
- The researchers speculate that the high prevalence of the disease in exported horses can be explained by their lack of exposure to Culicoides antigens early on in life, considering these insects do not exist in Iceland. The horses’ immune systems, therefore, may not have had the opportunity to develop a response to these antigens, making them more susceptible to summer eczema post-exportation.
Cite This Article
APA
Björnsdóttir S, Sigvaldadóttir J, Broström H, Langvad B, Sigurdsson A.
(2006).
Summer eczema in exported Icelandic horses: influence of environmental and genetic factors.
Acta Vet Scand, 48(1), 3.
https://doi.org/10.1186/1751-0147-48-3 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Icelandic Veterinary Services, Dept Holar, 551 Saudarkrokur, Iceland. systa@holar.is
MeSH Terms
- Age Factors
- Animals
- Ceratopogonidae / immunology
- Cross-Sectional Studies
- Denmark / epidemiology
- Eczema / epidemiology
- Eczema / genetics
- Eczema / veterinary
- Environment
- Female
- Germany / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / genetics
- Horses
- Iceland
- Male
- Prevalence
- Risk Factors
- Surveys and Questionnaires
- Sweden / epidemiology
- Time Factors
References
This article includes 18 references
Citations
This article has been cited 21 times.- Simonin EM, Torsteinsdóttir S, Svansson V, Björnsdóttir S, Freer H, Tarsillo J, Wagner B. Early allergen introduction overrides allergy predisposition in offspring of horses with Culicoides hypersensitivity. Front Immunol 2025;16:1654693.
- Jebbawi F, Olomski F, Inversini V, Keller G, Rhiner T, Waldern N, Lam J, Pantelyushin S, Canonica F, Birkmann K, Johansen P, Kündig TM, Fettelschoss-Gabriel A. Anti-IL-5 Vaccination Dampens Allergen-Specific IgE Levels and Modulates IL-4 and IL-5 Th2 Cytokines in Skin Allergy of Mice and Horses. Allergy 2025 Dec;80(12):3377-3390.
- Asti V, Summer A, Ablondi M, Sartori C, Giontella A, Pilastro V, Mecocci S, Cappelli K, Mancin E, Oian A, Mantovani R, Capomaccio S, Sabbioni A. Selection signatures and inbreeding: exploring genetic diversity in five native horse breeds. BMC Vet Res 2025 May 16;21(1):346.
- Graner A, Mueller RS, Geisler J, Bogenstätter D, White SJ, Jonsdottir S, Marti E. Allergen immunotherapy using recombinant Culicoides allergens improves clinical signs of equine insect bite hypersensitivity. Front Allergy 2024;5:1467245.
- Cox A, Stewart AJ. Insect Bite Hypersensitivity in Horses: Causes, Diagnosis, Scoring and New Therapies. Animals (Basel) 2023 Aug 4;13(15).
- Simonin EM, Wagner B. IgE-binding monocytes upregulate the coagulation cascade in allergic horses. Genes Immun 2023 Jun;24(3):130-138.
- Söderroos D, Ignell R, Haubro Andersen P, Bergvall K, Riihimäki M. The Effect of Insect Bite Hypersensitivity on Movement Activity and Behaviour of the Horse. Animals (Basel) 2023 Apr 8;13(8).
- Birras J, White SJ, Jonsdottir S, Novotny EN, Ziegler A, Wilson AD, Frey R, Torsteinsdottir S, Alcocer M, Marti E. First clinical expression of equine insect bite hypersensitivity is associated with co-sensitization to multiple Culicoides allergens. PLoS One 2021;16(11):e0257819.
- Raza F, Babasyan S, Larson EM, Freer HS, Schnabel CL, Wagner B. Peripheral blood basophils are the main source for early interleukin-4 secretion upon in vitro stimulation with Culicoides allergen in allergic horses. PLoS One 2021;16(5):e0252243.
- Larson EM, Babasyan S, Wagner B. IgE-Binding Monocytes Have an Enhanced Ability to Produce IL-8 (CXCL8) in Animals with Naturally Occurring Allergy. J Immunol 2021 May 15;206(10):2312-2321.
- Raza F, Ivanek R, Freer H, Reiche D, Rose H, Torsteinsdóttir S, Svansson V, Björnsdóttir S, Wagner B. Cul o 2 specific IgG3/5 antibodies predicted Culicoides hypersensitivity in a group imported Icelandic horses. BMC Vet Res 2020 Aug 10;16(1):283.
- Larson EM, Babasyan S, Wagner B. Phenotype and function of IgE-binding monocytes in equine Culicoides hypersensitivity. PLoS One 2020;15(5):e0233537.
- François L, Hoskens H, Velie BD, Stinckens A, Tinel S, Lamberigts C, Peeters L, Savelkoul HFJ, Tijhaar E, Lindgren G, Janssens S, Ducro BJ, Buys N, Schurink AA. Genomic Regions Associated with IgE Levels against Culicoides spp. Antigens in Three Horse Breeds. Genes (Basel) 2019 Aug 8;10(8).
- Torsteinsdottir S, Scheidegger S, Baselgia S, Jonsdottir S, Svansson V, Björnsdottir S, Marti E. A prospective study on insect bite hypersensitivity in horses exported from Iceland into Switzerland. Acta Vet Scand 2018 Nov 3;60(1):69.
- Lomas HR, Robinson PA. A Pilot Qualitative Investigation of Stakeholders' Experiences and Opinions of Equine Insect Bite Hypersensitivity in England. Vet Sci 2018 Jan 9;5(1).
- Hamza E, Mirkovitch J, Steinbach F, Marti E. Regulatory T cells in early life: comparative study of CD4+CD25high T cells from foals and adult horses. PLoS One 2015;10(3):e0120661.
- Klumplerova M, Vychodilova L, Bobrova O, Cvanova M, Futas J, Janova E, Vyskocil M, Vrtkova I, Putnova L, Dusek L, Marti E, Horin P. Major histocompatibility complex and other allergy-related candidate genes associated with insect bite hypersensitivity in Icelandic horses. Mol Biol Rep 2013 Apr;40(4):3333-40.
- 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.
- Andersson LS, Swinburne JE, Meadows JR, Broström H, Eriksson S, Fikse WF, Frey R, Sundquist M, Tseng CT, Mikko S, Lindgren G. The same ELA class II risk factors confer equine insect bite hypersensitivity in two distinct populations. Immunogenetics 2012 Mar;64(3):201-8.
- Hallamaa RE. Characteristics of equine summer eczema with emphasis on differences between Finnhorses and Icelandic horses in a 11-year study. Acta Vet Scand 2009 Jul 14;51(1):29.
- Olafsdóttir G, Svansson V, Ingvarsson S, Marti E, Torsteinsdóttir S. In vitro analysis of expression vectors for DNA vaccination of horses: the effect of a Kozak sequence. Acta Vet Scand 2008 Nov 4;50(1):44.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
