Summer eczema in exported Icelandic horses: influence of environmental and genetic factors

• Published in: Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica
• Main Authors: Broström Hans, Sigvaldadóttir Jakobína, Björnsdóttir Sigríður, Langvad Birgitte, Sigurðsson Ágúst
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2006
• Subjects: Veterinary medicine; SF600-1100; Iceland
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/1751-0147-48-3; https://doaj.org/article/0fed025fd8bd4ae1bd161b696333f92f

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.