Characteristics of equine summer eczema with emphasis on differences between Finnhorses and Icelandic horses in a 11-year study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Summer eczema, allergic dermatitis of the horse, was studied on 275 affected horses in Finland in 1997–2007. Features of the horses, clinical signs of the disease and owners' opinions of aggravating factors were recorded. Differences, especially, between two...

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Main Author: Hallamaa Raija E
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2009-07-01
Series:Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica
Online Access:http://www.actavetscand.com/content/51/1/29
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author Hallamaa Raija E
author_facet Hallamaa Raija E
author_sort Hallamaa Raija E
collection DOAJ
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Summer eczema, allergic dermatitis of the horse, was studied on 275 affected horses in Finland in 1997–2007. Features of the horses, clinical signs of the disease and owners' opinions of aggravating factors were recorded. Differences, especially, between two of the native Scandinavian horse breeds, the Finnhorse and the Icelandic horse, were evaluated. The study was based on clinical examination and information from the owners. Of the horses, 50% were Finnhorses, 26% Icelandic horses and 24% consisted of different breeds of ponies and other horses. Of the Finnhorses, 76% had summer eczema by the age of 5 years, but in the Icelandic horses born in Finland the average age at onset was 7 years. The vast majority of the horses, 75%, had moderate clinical signs, while 16% showed severe and 9% mild. The severity of clinical signs did not depend on the duration of the disease nor was it related to the age at onset. The only linkage to severity was the breed of the horse or import from Iceland; New Forest ponies and imported Icelandic horses showed severe clinical signs significantly more often than Finnhorses. Of the owners, 38% regarded insects as the only aggravating factor, 24% mentioned several simultaneous factors, including grass fodder and sunlight, while 22% could not specify any. In Finland, a typical horse breed suffering from summer eczema is the Finnhorse and the characteristics of the disease are mainly uniform with the other breeds affected. Equine summer eczema seems to be aggravated by various combinations of environmental factors.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-a686c9f4d12a4102ab56ace9816443d02022-12-22T01:20:33ZengBMCActa Veterinaria Scandinavica1751-01472009-07-015112910.1186/1751-0147-51-29Characteristics of equine summer eczema with emphasis on differences between Finnhorses and Icelandic horses in a 11-year studyHallamaa Raija E<p>Abstract</p> <p>Summer eczema, allergic dermatitis of the horse, was studied on 275 affected horses in Finland in 1997–2007. Features of the horses, clinical signs of the disease and owners' opinions of aggravating factors were recorded. Differences, especially, between two of the native Scandinavian horse breeds, the Finnhorse and the Icelandic horse, were evaluated. The study was based on clinical examination and information from the owners. Of the horses, 50% were Finnhorses, 26% Icelandic horses and 24% consisted of different breeds of ponies and other horses. Of the Finnhorses, 76% had summer eczema by the age of 5 years, but in the Icelandic horses born in Finland the average age at onset was 7 years. The vast majority of the horses, 75%, had moderate clinical signs, while 16% showed severe and 9% mild. The severity of clinical signs did not depend on the duration of the disease nor was it related to the age at onset. The only linkage to severity was the breed of the horse or import from Iceland; New Forest ponies and imported Icelandic horses showed severe clinical signs significantly more often than Finnhorses. Of the owners, 38% regarded insects as the only aggravating factor, 24% mentioned several simultaneous factors, including grass fodder and sunlight, while 22% could not specify any. In Finland, a typical horse breed suffering from summer eczema is the Finnhorse and the characteristics of the disease are mainly uniform with the other breeds affected. Equine summer eczema seems to be aggravated by various combinations of environmental factors.</p>http://www.actavetscand.com/content/51/1/29
spellingShingle Hallamaa Raija E
Characteristics of equine summer eczema with emphasis on differences between Finnhorses and Icelandic horses in a 11-year study
Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica
title Characteristics of equine summer eczema with emphasis on differences between Finnhorses and Icelandic horses in a 11-year study
title_full Characteristics of equine summer eczema with emphasis on differences between Finnhorses and Icelandic horses in a 11-year study
title_fullStr Characteristics of equine summer eczema with emphasis on differences between Finnhorses and Icelandic horses in a 11-year study
title_full_unstemmed Characteristics of equine summer eczema with emphasis on differences between Finnhorses and Icelandic horses in a 11-year study
title_short Characteristics of equine summer eczema with emphasis on differences between Finnhorses and Icelandic horses in a 11-year study
title_sort characteristics of equine summer eczema with emphasis on differences between finnhorses and icelandic horses in a 11 year study
url http://www.actavetscand.com/content/51/1/29
work_keys_str_mv AT hallamaaraijae characteristicsofequinesummereczemawithemphasisondifferencesbetweenfinnhorsesandicelandichorsesina11yearstudy