Equine Summer Eczema

Type I hypersensitivities, or allergies, are mediated by immunoglobulin E (IgE) that causes the release of inflammatory substances from mast cells. In horses, clinical manifestation of allergy often occurs at 4-5 years of age, while sensitization to allergen can precede clinical signs by several years. We have recently shown that immediate skin reactions in horses can be mediated by IgE and also by anti-IgG(T) antibodies. Currently, we investigate whether IgE and IgG(T) both contribute to clinical allergy in the horse.

If you own a horse diagnosed with summer eczema by your veterinarian, please consider contributing to research on this disease by submitting blood samples from your horse.

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References

  1. Induction of interleukin-4 production in neonatal IgE+ cells after crosslinking of maternal IgE

    Wagner B, Stokol T, Ainsworth DM

    Dev Comp Immunol. 2010 Apr;34(4):436-44. doi: 10.1016/j.dci.2009.12.002. Epub 2009 Dec 16.

  2. IgE in horses: occurrence in health and disease

    Wagner B

    Vet Immunol Immunopathol. 2009 Nov 15;132(1):21-30. doi: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2009.09.011. Epub 2009 Sep 23.

  3. Sensitization of skin mast cells with IgE antibodies to Culicoides allergens occurs frequently in clinically healthy horses

    Wagner B, Miller WH Jr, Erb HN, Lunn DP, Antczak DF

    Vet Immunol Immunopathol. 2009 Nov 15;132(1):53-61. doi: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2009.09.015. Epub 2009 Sep 23.

  4. A histamine release assay to identify sensitization to Culicoides allergens in horses with skin hypersensitivity

    Wagner B, Childs BA, Erb HN

    Vet Immunol Immunopathol. 2008 Dec 15;126(3-4):302-8. doi: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2008.09.001. Epub 2008 Sep 11.

  5. A comparison of intradermal testing and detection of allergen-specific immunoglobulin E in serum by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in horses affected with skin hypersensitivity

    Morgan EE, Miller WH Jr, Wagner B

    Vet Immunol Immunopathol. 2007 Dec 15;120(3-4):160-7. doi: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2007.08.007. Epub 2007 Aug 19.

  6. IgE and IgG antibodies in skin allergy of the horse

    Wagner B, Miller WH, Morgan EE, Hillegas JM, Erb HN, Leibold W, Antczak DF

    Vet Res. 2006 Nov-Dec;37(6):813-25. doi: 10.1051/vetres:2006039. Epub 2006 Sep 15.

  7. Monoclonal anti-equine IgE antibodies with specificity for different epitopes on the immunoglobulin heavy chain of native IgE

    Wagner B, Radbruch A, Rohwer J, Leibold W

    Vet Immunol Immunopathol. 2003 Mar 20;92(1-2):45-60. doi: 10.1016/s0165-2427(03)00007-2.

  8. Expression of a 4-(hydroxy-3-nitro-phenyl) acetyl (NP) specific equi-murine IgE antibody that mediates histamine release in vitro and a type I skin reaction in vivo

    Wagner B, Siebenkotten G, Leibold W, Radbruch A

    Equine Vet J. 2002 Nov;34(7):657-65. doi: 10.2746/042516402776250324.